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Beniamino GigliBeniamino Gigli (March 20, 1890 - November 30, 1957) was an Italian singer, widely regarded as one of the greatest operatic tenors of his time. Gigli was born in Recanati near Ancona, the son of a shoe-maker and an opera buff. In 1914, Gigli won first prize in an international singing competition in Parma. His operatic debut came on October 15, 1914 when he played Enzo in Amilcare Ponchielli's La Gioconda in Rovigo, following which he was in great demand. The following year he sang Faust in Arrigo Boito's Mefistofele in Naples, a role he would sing many more times. Gigli made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on November 26, 1920, again in Mefistofele. Other roles he became particularly associated with included Rodolfo in Giacomo Puccini's La Bohme and the title role in Umberto Giordano's Andrea Chnier, which he also recorded in full. Gigli filled the void left by the untimely death of Enrico Caruso in 1921, quickly becoming the most famous Italian tenor in the world. He was often called, "Caruso Secondo," though he much preferred to be known as "Gigli Primo." Gigli left the Met in 1932 after refusing to take a pay cut. He returned again to Italy, and sang in houses there, elsewhere in Europe and in South America. He was criticized for being a favourite singer of Benito Mussolini, but this did him no lasting damage, and, after retiring from public performance in World War II, he returned successfully to performing in 1945. In the last few years of his life, Gigli gave concert performances more often than he appeared on stage. Upon his retirement in 1955, Gigli spent the remaining two years of his life writing his Memoirs. He died in Rome in 1957. There is no question that for over thirty years, Gigli reigned as the most famous and beloved tenor in the world. Gigli, Beniamino Gigli, Beniamino Gigli, Beniamino Gigli, Beniamino
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