Zanelli (Morales), Renato

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Zanelli (Morales), Renato

Zanelli (Morales), Renato, esteemed Chilean baritone, later tenor; b. Valparaiso, April 1, 1892; d. Santiago, March 25, 1935. After studies in Neuchâtel and Turin, he pursued a business career in his homeland. His voice was discovered by Angelo Querez, who became his mentor in Santiago, where he made his debut as a baritone as Valentine in 1916. On Nov. 19, 1919, he appeared for the first time with the Metropolitan Opera in N.Y. as Amonasro. He remained on its roster until 1923, and then went to Milan, where he resumed vocal studies. He made his debut as a tenor in the role of Raoul at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples in 1924, and subsequently appeared in Rome, in London (Covent Garden, 1928-30), at La Scala in Milan (1920-32), and at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires He won great distinction with his portrayals of Otello, Lohengrin, and Tristan.

—Nicholas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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