Gino Bechi
1913-1993
Baritone
Gino Bechi (16 October 1913, Florence - 2 February 1993, Florence) was an Italian operatic baritone, particularly associated with the Italian repertory, especially in Verdi roles.
Bechi studied in his native Florence with Raul Frazzi and di Giorgio, and made his debut at Empoli, in 1936, as Germont.
He sang widely in Italy, appearing frequently at the Rome Opera from 1938 to 1952, and at La Scala from 1939 to 1953, where he sang Nabucco, for its reoponing in 1946.
He quickly established himself as the leading dramatic baritone of his time, in roles such as Rigoletto, de Luna, Renato, Carlo, Amonasro, Alfio, Gérard, but was also admired as Figaro and Hamlet, etc.
Bechi sang relatively little outside Italy, but did appear in England, North and South America, in the late 1950s, but by then he was passed his best.
In his prime, Bechi possessed a dark and incisive voice and was a fine singing-actor. He can be heard in a number of early recordings, opposite Beniamino Gigli, such as Un ballo in maschera, Aida, Andrea Chenier, and Cavalleria rusticana, conducted by Pietro Mascagni himself. He also recorded Il barbiere di Siviglia. Also available is a "pirate" recording of Nabucco, with Maria Callas, from 1949.
Bechi retired from the stage in 1965, and taught in Siena.
Bechi studied in his native Florence with Raul Frazzi and di Giorgio, and made his debut at Empoli, in 1936, as Germont.
He sang widely in Italy, appearing frequently at the Rome Opera from 1938 to 1952, and at La Scala from 1939 to 1953, where he sang Nabucco, for its reoponing in 1946.
He quickly established himself as the leading dramatic baritone of his time, in roles such as Rigoletto, de Luna, Renato, Carlo, Amonasro, Alfio, Gérard, but was also admired as Figaro and Hamlet, etc.
Bechi sang relatively little outside Italy, but did appear in England, North and South America, in the late 1950s, but by then he was passed his best.
In his prime, Bechi possessed a dark and incisive voice and was a fine singing-actor. He can be heard in a number of early recordings, opposite Beniamino Gigli, such as Un ballo in maschera, Aida, Andrea Chenier, and Cavalleria rusticana, conducted by Pietro Mascagni himself. He also recorded Il barbiere di Siviglia. Also available is a "pirate" recording of Nabucco, with Maria Callas, from 1949.
Bechi retired from the stage in 1965, and taught in Siena.