The tenor Giuseppe di Stefano was born in 1921 near Catania, in Sicily. He studied with Adriano Torchi and Luigi Montesanto in Milan. After three years in the Italian army he escaped to Switzerland in 1943 and was interned. He later appeared in Swiss broadcasts and concerts that aroused considerable interest.
Di Stefano moved into heavier parts such as Don José, Canio, Turridu, Radames, Alvaro and, most unwisely, Otello. His voice in his early years with its smooth and liquid golden tone was considered the finest since Gigli but, regrettably, he later chose parts for which his voice was really unsuited, in addition to suffering from respiratory problems. He recorded extensively, often with Callas and Gobbi, in a whole series made by the Scala Company. Di Stefano died on 3rd March 2008 at his home in Santa Maria Hoè, north of Milan, from injuries sustained in a November 2004 attack at his family’s villa in Kenya.
