Picchi, Mirto

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Picchi, Mirto

Picchi, Mirto, Italian tenor; b. Florence, March 15, 1915; d. there, Sept. 25,1980. He was a pupil of Florence of Giuseppe Armani and Giulia Tess. After making his operatic debut as Radamès in Milan in 1946, he sang in various Italian music centers. In 1947–48 he sang at London’s Cambridge Theatre, appearing as Rodolfo, Cavaradossi, and the Duke of Mantua. In 1949 he appeared with the Glyndebourne company as Verdi’s Riccardo during its visit to Edinburgh. In 1952 he sang at London’s Covent Garden. In 1957 he appeared at Milan’s La Scala, where he gave his farewell appearance as Don Basilio in 1974. Picchi was especially known for his roles in contemporary operas.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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