Bergonzi Carlo, *13 July 1924 Polisene near Parma, †25 August 2014 Milan, Italian singer (tenor). He began his career in 1948 as a baritone (Figaro in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville) in Lecce. In 1951, he made his debut as a tenor in Bari, in the title role of U. Giordano’s opera Andrea Chénier. In 1953, he made his debut at La Scala, with which he was associated for many seasons. Between 1956 and 1986, he performed regularly at the Metropolitan Opera House, and from 1962 also at Covent Garden Theatre. He became famous as a master of vocal technique, specialising primarily in Italian repertoire, mainly Verdi’s operas. Endowed with a lyrical voice, thanks to its excellent projection and brilliance, he was also able to take on heroic roles (including Manrico in Verdi’s Il Trovatore). He was repeatedly chairman of the jury of the G. Verdi vocal competitions in Busseto. In 1993, he retired from the opera stage.
