Battistini М.(1856-1928), singer

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BATTISTINI Mattia (1856-1928), Italian singer, baritone. With a soft expressive voice and a well-developed upper register, he was a darling of the audience. His career began in 1878 in Rome. Battistini's repertoire included roles in operas by G. Rossini, G. Donizetti, G. Verdi, R. Wagner. In St. Petersburg, he performed in 1893-1914 as a part of private Italian non-repertory companies. His best-known roles were G. Verdi's Rigoletto, Don Carlos, Jago, Macbeth; and Scarpia in G. Puccini's Tosca. Battistini also performed in Russian operas (in Italian), playing the roles of Demon and Ruslan. In 1898, Battistini made a triumphant debut in P. I. Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin (the play ran 8 nights in a row). In Saint Petersburg, Battistini sang together with Z. Arnoldson (soprano), and А. Mazini (tenor).

References: Пальмеджани Ф. Маттиа Баттистини: Король баритонов. М.; Л., 1966.

L. М. Zolotnitskaya, А.L. Porfiryeva. Battistini Mattia
Puccini Giacomo
Tchaikovsky Peter Ilyich
Verdi Giuseppe
Пальмеджани Ф. Маттиа Баттистини: Король баритонов. М.; Л., 1966