Anselmi, Giuseppe

Born Nov. 16, 1876, in Catania; died May 27, 1929, in Zoagli. Italian opera singer (tenor).

Anselmi studied composition and violin playing. He began his musical career as a violinist but at the same time was attracted to the vocal art. Beginning in 1894 he studied singing under L. Mancinelli. In 1896, Anselmi made his debut in the role of Turiddu (P. Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana) on the stage of the Athens Theater. He was an outstanding representative of the Italian bel canto. He sang in the theaters of Cairo and Alexandria. Anselmi went on tour in Russia (for the first time in 1904), Spain, England, and Argentina. He performed successfully in operas by Italian and French composers. But Anselmi frequently appeared in roles from the dramatic repertoire which were unsuitable for his lyric tenor—for example, José (Bizet’s Carmen) and Cavaradossi (G. Puccini’s Tosca); this led to the premature loss of his voice.