Italian bass Cesare Siepi (born 1923) is one of the legendary opera singers of the 20th century generally considered to be one of the finest basses of the post-war period. He was a star for decades on the world's great opera stages, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala (Milan) and Covent Garden (London). His Met career was extraordinary, with 450 performances spanning 24 consecutive seasons. In 1962, the charismatic Siepi stretched his talents to perform a lead role on Broadway in Bravo Giovanni!, a musical conceived just for him. His professional career was remarkably long, from his debut at age 18 in 1941 until his retirement from the opera stage in the early 1990s. This edition presents 12 signature arias, with Siepi's distinctive interpretations notated in the score and discussed in essays and explanatory notes. A biography of the singer is included. |
