Considered by opera lovers to be one of Italy's finest tenors, Beniamino Gigli's rise to fame in the world of opera came about during a period when the world was embroiled in the horrors of the First World War. After winning an internationl singing competition in Parma in 1914 he made his operatic debut at the age of 24 playing Enzo in Ponchielli's 'La Gioconda'. From there he performed in 'Mefistofele' and gradually climbed the operatic ladder performing the work at key venues in Palermo, Naples, Rome and Milan before making his international debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 1920.
After the death of Enrico Caruso in 1921 Gigli rose to prominence as one of Italy's leading tenors and was often referred to as Caruso Secondo - the second Caruso. After a disagreement with the Metropolitan Opera management regarding pay Gigli returned to Italy and began to perform throughout Europe. He became one of Mussolini's favourite performers, something the singer received much criticism for, and recorded 'Giovinezza', the official hymn of the Italian Fascist party. The unsavoury connection with Italy's dictator did little to harm the singer's popularity with the public however, and after the end of World War Two the public demand for Gigli was greater than ever.
Prior to his retirement in 1955 Gigli undertook a major international concert tour which left him exhausted and in poor health; he never fully recovered and died in 1957 aged 67.
