Gigli, Beniamino (
b Recanati, 1890;
d Rome, 1957). It. tenor. First prize int. contest, Parma, 1914. Début Rovigo 1914 (Enzo in
La Gioconda), followed by appearances in Bologna, Naples, Berlin, Dresden, Turin, Rome, Madrid, and Monte Carlo. La Scala début 1918 with Toscanini (Faust in Boito's
Mefistofele). NY Met 1920–32 and 1938–9; CG 1930–1, 1938–9, 1946; Salzburg Fest. 1936 (concert). Still sang superbly on tour of USA 1955. Excelled as Rodolfo (
La bohème), Duke of Mantua (
Rigoletto), and Cavaradossi (
Tosca). Sang Ruggero in
La rondine at its NY Met première, 1928.