Roberto Turrini (Tenor) (Arco 1913 - Arco 2001)

He studied in Milan with the tenor Alfredo Cecchi and made his debut in April 1947 as Pinkerton at the Teatro Sociale di Asola in Mantua. He followed that with further appearances in ‘’Madama Butterfly’’ in Naples, and in 1948 went on to sing in Turin and Florence (‘’Aida’’), in Parma in 1949 and Milan and Rome in 1950. His performances in London were in ‘’Aida’’ (Stoll Theatre, 1957), ‘’La forza del destino’’ (Drury Lane, 1958) and ‘’Aida’’ (Covent Garden, 1958 and '59). He appeared as widely as Portugal, Switzerland, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, and ended his career in 1961 singing Otello in Antwerp. Other roles included Don Carlos, Macduff, Gabriele Adorno, Arrigo, Cavaradossi, Calaf, Dick Johnson, Don Jose, Enzo Grimaldi, Andrea Chenier, Turiddu and Canio. He sang in the first modern performance of Cherubini's ‘’Lodaska’’ (Milan, 1950), in a new edition of Alfano's ‘’Sakuntala’’ (Rome, 1952) and in the premiere of Chailly's ‘’La riva delle Sirti’’ (Monte-Carlo, 1959). He was a dramatic tenore di forza with a voice of burnished and penetrating tone that took him to many major international operatic centres. He was heard at London’s Drury Lane Theatre in ‘’Aida’’, underlining his reputation as a singer who could thrill by the sheer power of his voice.

Chronology of some appearances

1947 Mantua Teatro Sociale di Asola Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)

1957 London Stoll Theatre Aida (Radames)

1958 London Drury Lane La forza del destino (Alvaro)

1958 London Covent Garden Aida (Radames)

1959 London Covent Garden Aida (Radames)

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