Benjimino Gigli

Background

Gigli, Benjimino was born on March 20, 1890 in Recanati, Italy. Son of Dominico and Ester (Magnaterra) Gigli.

Education

Studied at Liceo St. Cecilia, Rome, under Enrico Rosati.

Career

Debut as Enzo, in “La Gioconda,” at Rovigo, Italy, October 15, 1915. Sang throughout Italy, Europe, S. and Central America. Joined Metropolitan Opera Company, New York, 1920.

Principal rôles in “Andrea Chenier”. “Cavalleria Rusticana”. “Fedora”; “Lucia”; “Traviata”.

“Tosca”; “Bohème”; “Iris”. “Mefistofele”; “Amore Tre Re”. “Lucrezia Borgia”; “Francesca da Rimini”.

“Romeo e Giulietta” (in French). “Lohengrin”; “Butterfly”. “Rigoletto”; “Africana”.

“Gianni Schicchi”; “Martha”. “I Compagnacci”; “Manon Lescaut”. “Pagliacci”; “La Favorita”.

“Mignon”; “Manon”, in French and Italian. “Ballo in Maschera”; “L’Elisir d’Amore”. “Adrienne Lecouvreur”.

“Roi d’Ys”; “Rigoletto”. “Cena delle Beffe”; “Amico Fritz”. “Don Giovanni”; “Falstaff”.

“Sonnambula”, etc.

Membership

Served in Italian Army, 1909-1911, and 1915. Grand Ufficale Crown of Italy.

Connections

Married Costanza Cerroni, April. Children: Ester, Enzo.

Father:

Dominico Gigli

Mother:

Ester (Magnaterra) Gigli

Spouse:

Costanza Cerroni

child:

Enzo Gigli

child:

Ester Gigli