The Italian spinto tenor by which all others are measured. Enrico Caruso was born in 1873 into a very poor family in Naples, Italy, but he managed to study with a fine teacher, Guglielmo Vergine. At the start of his career he had some technical deficiencies and his upper register did not acquire security until 1902.
From then on the sheer beauty, power, breadth of phrase and breath control made him in demand worldwide and, translated into today's terms, the fees he commanded would make today's stars turn green!
Between 1903 and 1920 he made over 600 hundred appearances at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. There he created the role of Dick Johnson in Puccini's La fanciulla del West. He appeared frequently with Dame Nellie Melba, at the Met, Covent Garden and elsewhere.
He was never tempted to overload his voice and resisted trying the tenor's ΓÇ£graveyard r├┤leΓÇ¥ of Otello (in VerdiΓÇÖs opera) despite the strength of his voice.
Caruso was the first tenor to become widely popular as a result of his recordings. He made his first in 1902 and his last in 1920. The royalties are said to have amounted to £500,000. He died in his home town in 1921.
