Nessi, Giuseppe

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Nessi, Giuseppe

Nessi, Giuseppe, Italian tenor; b. Bergamo, Sept. 25, 1887; d. Milan, Dec. 16, 1961. He studied at the Bergamo Cons, with Vezzani and Melli. In 1910 he made his operatic debut as Alfredo in Saluzzo. From 1921 to 1959 he was a valued member of Milan’s La Scala, where he excelled in comprimario roles. He also sang in other Italian opera centers and at London’s Covent Garden (1927–37). Among his most notable roles were Bardolfo, Spoletta, Missail, and Goro. He also created the roles of Gobrias in Nerone (1924) and Pong in Turandot (1926).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire