Nazzareno de Angelis, bass
Nazzareno de Angelis was born in Rome in 1881 and died there in 1962. As a boy he had sung in the Choir of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. His début took place in 1903 and his career continued until 1939 when he retired. He was one of the most distinguished Italian basses of his era and was particularly admired for his portrayal of Mefistofele, a role he sang over five hundred times between 1906 and 1938. He had a repertoire of 57 roles and made over 1500 appearances. Other than singing in Chicago during the years 1910–11 and 1915–20, de Angelis’s career was based in Europe. He was also admired as Rossini’s Mosè and in the principal Verdi and Wagner roles. His recording of Mefistofele was his sole complete recording, although he recorded a considerable number of arias for both Fonotipia and Columbia.
