Background
Tozzi, Giorgio was born on January 8, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Enrico and Anna (Bontempi) Tozzi.
Tozzi, Giorgio was born on January 8, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Enrico and Anna (Bontempi) Tozzi.
Graduate, DePaul Academy, Chicago, 1940. Student, DePaul University, 1943. Student, Conservatorio G. Verdi, Milan, also.
Student, Scuola Musicale de Milano, 1951.
He was a mainstay for many years with the Metropolitan Opera, and sang principal bass roles in nearly every major opera house worldwide. He made his professional debut in the Broadway production of Britten"s The Rape of Lucretia in 1948 as Tarquinius. His signature roles included Figaro in Mozart"s The Marriage of Figaro, Phillip II in Verdi"s Don Carlos, Hans Sachs in Wagner"s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and Méphistophélès in Gounod"s Faust.
In 1957 he portrayed the title role in a nationally broadcast performance of Mussorgsky"s Boris Godunov with the National Broadcasting Company Opera Theatre.
In 1958 he created the role of The Doctor in Barber"s Vanessa. Tozzi also sang the bass part in the recording of Sir Thomas Beecham"s version of Handel"s Messiah for Radio Corporation of America Victor in 1959.
After dubbing the singing parts for the character of Emile de Becque (acted by Rossano Brazzi) in the 1958 film version of South Pacific, Tozzi spent many years playing the role of de Becque himself in various revivals and road tours of the show, including one at Lincoln Center in the late 1960s. He was a professor at the Juilliard School, Brigham Young University, and Indiana University.
In 2006 he retired as Distinguished Professor of Voice at Indiana University"s Jacobs School of Music.
Tozzi published a novel in 1997, The Golem of the Golden West.
Member American Guild Musical Artists, American Federation of television and Radio Artists, Actors Equity American, The Bohemians, Young Men's Christian Association.
Married Monte Amundsen, March 15, 1967. Children– Eric John, Jennifer.