Raimondi, Ruggero (1941– )

Italian bass. He studied in Rome and made his debut at Spoleto in 1964, as Colline; in the same year he sang Procida in Rome and in 1965 appeared as Méphistophélès in Venice. He has become identified with the role of Don Giovanni, which he sang both at Glyndebourne in 1969 and in a film of the opera under Lorin Maazel. He made his US debut at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York in 1970, as Silva. A regular performer at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London since his debut as Fiesco in 1972, he played the title role in Rossini's Mosè in Egitto in 1994. Other roles include Attila, Boris Godunov, Mosè, and Philip II. Italian performances include Massenet's Don Quichotte in Florence for the 1992 season and Scarpia in a televised version of Tosca performed in Rome.