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 Ope...