Franci, Benvenuto (1891-1985)

Italian baritone. He made his debut in Rome, at the Teatro Costanzi, in 1918, in Mascagni's Lodoletta, and sang in the first performance there of Il piccolo Marat/Little Marat, in 1921. In 1923 he sang Amonasro at La Scala, under Toscanini, and in the following two seasons took part in the first performances of operas by Giordano and Zandonai. He appeared at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, in 1925, 1931, and 1946, as Scarpia and Gerard. In 1940 he was Barak at La Scala, in the first Italian performance of Die Frau ohne Schatten/The Woman Without a Shadow. His other roles included Macbeth, Barnaba, and Telramund.