Beniamino Gigli (March 20, 1890 - November 30, 1957) was an Italian singer,… Read Full Bio ↴Beniamino Gigli (March 20, 1890 - November 30, 1957) was an Italian singer, widely regarded as one of the greatest operatic tenors of his time.

Gigli was born in Recanati, in the Marche, the son of a shoe-maker and an opera buff.

In 1914, Gigli won first prize in an international singing competition in Parma. His operatic debut came on October 15, 1914 when he played Enzo in Amilcare Ponchielli's La Gioconda in Rovigo, following which he was in great demand. Gigli made many important debuts, in quick succession and always in Mefistofele: Teatro Massimo di Palermo (March 31, 1915), Teatro San Carlo di Napoli (December 26, 1915), Teatro Costanzi di Roma (December 26, 1916), La Scala (November 19, 1918), and finally the Metropolitan (November 26, 1920).

Other roles Gigli became particularly associated with included Rodolfo in Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème and the title role in Umberto Giordano's Andrea Chénier, both of which he would later record in full.

Gigli rose to prominence after the death of Italian tenor Enrico Caruso in 1921. He was often called "Caruso Secondo", though he much preferred to be known as "Gigli Primo."

Gigli left the Met in 1932, ostensibly after refusing to take a pay cut. Giulio Gatti-Casazza, the Met's General Manager at the time, was furious at his company's most popular singer; he spread numerous lies to the press, e.g., that Gigli was the only singer not to accept the pay cut. There were several others, e.g., Lily Pons and Rosa Ponselle. And it is well-documented that Gatti-Casazza gave himself a large pay increase in 1931, so that after the pay cut in '32 his salary remained the same as it had been. Furthermore, Gatti was careful to hide Gigli's counteroffer to the press, in which the singer offered to sing five or six concerts gratis, which in dollars was worth more than Gatti's imposed pay cut.

After leaving the Met, Gigli returned again to Italy, and sang in houses there, elsewhere in Europe and in South America. He was criticized for being a favorite singer of Benito Mussolini, and toward the end of World War II was able to give few performances. However he immediately returned to the stage in 1945, and the audience acclaim was greater and more clamorous than ever.

In the last few years of his life, Gigli gave concert performances more often than he appeared on stage. Before his retirement in 1955, Gigli undertook an exhausting world tour of Farewell Concerts. This impaired his health in the two years that remained to him, during which time he helped prepare his Memoirs (based primarily on an earlier Memoir, fleshed out by a series of interviews). Gigli died in Rome in 1957.

Like many artists, Gigli was a man of contradictions. On the one hand, he gave more fundraising concerts and raised more money than any other singer in history -- one thousand benefit concerts! He was deeply and genuinely devoted to Padre Pio, his confessor, to whom he donated a huge amount of money. Also, Gigli sang an unusual amount of sacred music (especially in the 1950s), atypical of a leading operatic tenor. Additionally, he was throughout his life deeply devoted to the sacred music of Don Lorenzo Perosi.

On the other hand, Gigli's relationships with women were all tainted by scandal. He lied in his memoirs, saying that he was married six months earlier than he really was. This was to conceal that his wife Costanza was pregnant before reaching the altar. Gigli had two children with Costanza, Enzo and Rina. (The latter was a famous soprano in her own right.) Later, Gigli is well-known to have had a second family with Lucia Vigarani, producing three children. Gigli is rumored to have had at least three other children with as many different women. Like Caruso, Schipa, Björling, Tagliavini, and other of history's greatest tenors, Gigli's exact number of offspring will probably never be known.

There is little disagreement that Beniamino Gigli possessed the most beautiful lyric tenor voice of his time. It was also a large voice, which—with Gigli's extraordinary technique and vocal understanding—permitted Gigli to make frequent forays into repertoire normally reserved for spinto and dramatic tenors. Andrea Chénier was Gigli's favorite role. Another role in which he was unsurpassed was that of Des Grieux in Manon Lescaut. Both of these roles are supposedly for "heavier" voices, not lyric tenors.

Gigli's heart, which he infused into every phrase he sang, made him a natural in the realm of popular song. Whereas Caruso sang every song like it was his last, Gigli made each song or aria sound like he could sing twenty more with equal ease. And he sometimes did: Gigli's stamina was such that, after an opera, a piano would be wheeled onto the stage, and Gigli would sing an improvised concert of 10, 20, sometimes 30 encores. Virtually all of these post-opera concerts were fundraisers for which Gigli did not receive a penny. Gigli sang like this for 41 years without interruption. It is likely that neither Gigli's vocal longevity nor durability will ever be surpassed.

His remarkable singing can still be appreciated in the numerous recordings he made, both acoustical and electrical, primarily for RCA Victor (formerly known as the Victor Talking Machine Company). RCA even recorded Gigli's final performance in Carnegie Hall in 1955.

Lolita
Beniamino Gigli Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Lolita' by these artists:

#Lana Del Rey Would you be mine? would you be my baby tonight? Could…
- Lana Del Rey Would you be mine, would you be my baby tonight? Could…
Alain Barrière Moi qui aime Lolita Que ne ferais-je pas Pour être de ses…
Ali Katı (Life is short rashness flies) Bir lolita eksik yanımda La …
Alizée Moi je m'appelle Lolita Lo ou bien Lola Du pareil au même …
Alizee Moi, je m'appelle Lolita Lo ou bien Lola Du pareil au même M…
Ambar Lucid Lolita, how could they do this to you? I′d hear your…
ANTHA Lolita s′est endormie Laudanum dans un verre la nuit L'eau d…
Arturo Buzzi-Peccia Amor, amor che langue il cor la sua canzon ti vuol…

Arturo Buzzi‐Peccia Lolita Amor, amor, Chè langue il cor, La sua canzone ti vuo…
Ash Kidd Yo, elle s'en bat les couilles des codes, elle rentre…
Aurita Castillo & Su Conjunto ------------------------------------------------------------…
Baby Gos Lolita, Lolita you're so hot you got a fever Baby know…
Bajaga & Instruktori Ja osecam da dolazis, jer kisa odma prestane i ulice pones…
Belén Aguilera Lolita Voy dando pasos al ritmo del tiempo Soy tan esclava …
Belinda Quiero ser mayor Y me gusta el rock & roll Me mata…
Belinda Peregrín Quiero ser mayor Y me gusta el rock&roll Me mata el revent…
Black Francis If you're sour 'cause some people Tried to take away all…
Blue Café This must be love I wanna hold you baby This must be…
Buzzi Lolita Amor, amor, Chè langue il cor, La sua canzone ti vuo…
Byron Barranco Para escribir la canción mas bonita Basta con verte muñeca s…
Cassino Lolita, she's got the songs of sirens, she's got it…
Céline Dion Tu dis que je suis trop jeune Pour vivre avec un…
Chaton Il se peut que j'inverse Quelques filles au passage Quand je…
Cheap Trick You've got it, Lolita Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh You've got it, L…
Colla Zio E ti sembra già tutto risolto Già tutto risolto Già tutto ri…
Das Projekt Lolita the sun's shining But I don't care Bring my wine A…
Del Rey Lana Would you be mine? would you be my baby tonight? Could…
Delasonica No comencé como ves tal vez pudiera ser Una sola sensación…
Doré / Marthoutet Quartet Moi je m'appelle Lolita Lo ou bien Lola Du pareil au même Mo…
Dream Wife I've been your Lolita I've been your toy I've been your savi…
Elefant Can you tell me what you're thinking? I just melt inside…
Enrico Caruso amor amor che langue il cor la sua canzon ti vuol…
Eylia She’s in the city, sees all the lights She’s dressed…
Faramarz Assef اُوله اولیُ اُوله اوله اُولی اولی لهَ اُ له لو لا اُوله اولی…
Faramarz Assef [www.IranMusic.Me] Lolita, I gotta see ya I got a fire when she…
Francis Black If you're sour 'cause some people Tried to take away all…
Freestyle Hon hade en fix idé Om att få alla på knä Så…
Friend of a Friend I wanna be your little Lo, your only sweetheart wanna be…
Fun People Lolita My soul get filled when I talk about you Cause be…
Fun people [Gori & Nekro golden hits] My soul get filled when I talk about you cause being…
Gildor Roy Lolita mirage d’autoroute Lolita mes sens en déroute Tes yeu…
Go West Lolita She make summer sweeter She cool like granita A li…
Grace Evora Lolita, asvez mi n'ta pergunta purke mi n'ta fala mi…
Grupo Karicia Se llama, se llama y le dicen Lolita Y tiene sus…
Hex Je ako cukor a bič Pohľadom mučí môj chtíč Nakoniec mi však…
HND Väike tüdruk ema sind keelaks Kui ta vaid teaks mida meesteg…
I.A.M.X My name is Lolita And I'm, I'm not supposed to play…
IAMX She was soft She was unbroken Dressed in the pink That sh…
Jake Mirador you're the nicest view outside of olly with your long dark h…
Jan Plestenjak Hodiš kot kraljica To res dobro znaš Gledaš kot svetnica Vse…
Janus Liebe auf den ersten Blick, Auf den letzten Blick, Auf jed…
Jean-Luc Lahaye C'est vrai que j'aime bien les belles voitures Le foot, mes…
jin hai xin 你的白纸我来信手涂鸦没有什么比青春伟大今天王子明天变成青蛙只要有说法不用章法结了果的大树何必开花谁在树下追忆似…
John Diva the Rockets of Love Picture Me As A Kid Out Of Control In A…
Johnny Hallyday Tes yeux sont clairs comme la source et le ruisseau Et…
José Carreras Plácido Domingo Luciano Pavarotti Orchestre De Paris & J Lolita had a nice garage apartment upstairs Lolita lived a l…
Jughead's Revenge Why don't you go back to the hell from which…
Julien Doré Moi je m'appelle Lolita Lo ou bien Lola Du pareil au même Mo…
Kali Tańczyła jak karuzela ciemność pochłonęła całe wnętrze Zgasz…
Karicia Se llama, se llama y le dicen Lolitaa y tiene sus…
Kerkko Koskinen Joen rantamilla yö kostuu hiljalleen lolitan rinnoilla oksat…
Kid Abelha Toda menina já foi Lolita na vida Não por amor, mas…
Kimkoi Jung an Jahren, doch verdorben Musst du die wahre Sünde sein…
Kinito petite blonde oxygéné roulé dans ton maillot serré avec te…
Knee High Fox Watch my lips lick that lollipop in panties and a crop…
Kovács József A vágy egy furcsa, bolondos álom, lopva jő és…
Kryštof Jsem vůně, kterou plaveš, když proskočím Ti srdcem Jsem hra…
La ch Gotta, tell you all about We are coming, they are not Let…
La Orquesta Mondragón Llaman al timbre, salgo a mirar, y abro la puerta y…
La Unión Dar un paso hacia atrás es la norma a su edad…
LA+CH Gotta, tell you all about We are coming, they are not Let…
Ladea Croyez pas qu'elle a rien dans la tête Elle se maquille…
Lana Del Rey Would you be mine? would you be my baby tonight? Could…
Lana Del Rey (Demo) One, one Would you be mine, would you be my baby…
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die - The Paradise Edition Would you be mine? would you be my baby tonight? Could…
Lana Del Rey 1 - BORN TO DIE [PARADISE EDITION]/Lana Del Rey One, one Would you be mine, would you be my baby…
Lana Del Rey [drivemusic.me] Lolita, I gotta see ya I got a fire when she…
Lana Del Rey/Musicfire.in Would you be mine? would you be my baby tonight? Could…
Lana Del Rey猀 One, one Would you be mine, would you be my baby…
Laura Marling Seeing you there with your arms entwined A fool once said…
Lauren Hoffman Burning, Still faithful, And smoking cigarettes he falters, …
Leah LaBelle Am I the aim of your fascination? Am I the eye…
Lolina Drive your car in the opposite lane Of the oncoming traffic …
Los Ecos Y ahora Al compás y al sabor de esta cumbia Bailemos con…
Madame Olga On est con à tout age elle a pas dix…
Mario Lanza Ever since I was a young boy, I've played the silver…
Martha Wainwright When you undress don't close the door I know you're in…
Masuna Wrap your hands around my neck Make me look like a…
Me and my friends Lolita, I gotta see ya I got a fire when she…
Mina Harker Immer wenn ich von dir träume Fühle ich mich wie im…
Miniature Tigers Red headed and sweet Only seventeen Saw you in some kind o…
müge Mücevherleri taktım üstüme Şampanya üstümde Yağmur olup yağa…
Mustard Plug Lolita, I wanna meet ya I wanna take you in my arms…
New Boyz Kaku kakiku Kekok tak ku terikut langkahmu Tango salsa meren…
Nisvanis Чи намайг дандаа ширтдэг Түүнд чинь би жаахан тэвддэг Яг л т…
Onda Vaga No existe el abuso si, fue dios quien quiso que encuentre…
Orquesta Mondragón Llaman al timbre, salgo a mirar, Y abro la puerta y…
Out Out Her words are never meaningless They stop when she speak H…
Paw Hush child, or I'll close your pretty mouth Lolita spread y…
Pierre de Maere Tu parles mal, j'te cours après À chaque fois qu'un inconnu…
Pierre Perret Lolita est terrible et son corps est terrible Ses yeux sont…
Prince Stop it baby You're a VIP At least to me Come here and…
Prince - 3121 Ow! Ow! Stop it baby! U're a VIP, at least 2 me Come…
Puhdys Lolita, zwei weiße Möwen fliegen heute zu dir Mit Grüßen vo…
Reckol (Kachi, kachi) (Itadakimasu, ıtadakimasu) (Itadakimasu, ıtad…
Ric Manrique Jr Lolita aking Lolita Ang kagandahan mo ay walang makapantay A…
Rybičky 48 Lolita nabila zbraň, Jenže se tomuhle braň, Tak i tak zaplat…
Samuele Bersani Il delirio è il motore guasto della normalità Lolita, Lolit…
Santos Woge La muerte se llevó tu cuerpo Pero tu recuerdo vive en…
Sauvan Ferme ta gueule et va t′asseoir Lolita c'est ce qu′elle m'a…
Schock Jung an Jahr'n und doch verdorben Musst du die wahre Sünde…
Selaelo Selota Usemncane u lolita Udinga uthando lwethu (yea×2) Usemncane …
Shifty Oh Lolita Girl ya make it so hot It's likes I got…
Shifty Shellshock [chorus] Oh Lolita Girl ya make it so hot It's likes I got…
Sneaker Pimps She was soft She was unbroken Dressed in the pink That sh…
Sordid Humor tell me something, it's too hot to be here there are…
souf lolita lolita lolita j'ai fais ma priere comme ca lolita lol…
Stereophonics I stepped out off the train at dawn Walked along an…
Stoneman Sie war mit 13 schon so schön Konnte seine Blicke sehen Die…
Suntree Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin,…
Suzanne Vega Lolita Almost grown Lolita Go on home Hey girl Don't be a d…
Tatarka Алтын кызда, алтын былдак Юлдан барам, як-як карап Шерехе ма…
The Veronicas From the mouths of babes to power of men I make…
The Veronicas(PatrickReza Remix) From the mouths of babes to the power of men I…
Throw Me The Statue Lolita, I gotta see ya I got a fire when she…
Udo Lindenberg Sie kam Und sah Und wußte (und wußte) Wie es kommen Wie es k…
Vega LOLITA APURA EL ÚLTIMO CIGARRO EN EL BALCÓN NO, YA NO…
Vira Glass half empty Is what you see The fool is optimistic So h…
Virtanen Kaksi vuotta vasta olet päälle kymmenen Yhteiskunnan silmiss…
Voodoo Kid Forse ho aspettato troppo tempo a dirti certe cose Lo vedi…
Voxlight Lola lolita Tu eres bonita Lola lolita Dame tu amor Lola lol…
金海心你的白纸我来信手涂鸦没有什么比青春伟大今天王子明天变成青蛙只要有说法不用章法结了果的大树何必开花谁在树下追忆似…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Beniamino Gigli:

"Nessun Dorma" From Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot" Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma! Tu pure, o, Principessa, nella t…
'O Sole Mio Che bella cosa na jurnata 'e sole, N'aria serena doppo na…
Core 'ngrato Catarì, Catarì... Pecchè mm"e ddice sti pparole amare?! Pecc…
Core'Ngrato Catarì, Catarì Pecchè mm"e ddice sti pparole amare Pecchè mm…
Funiculi Funicula Aisséra, oje Nanniné, me ne sagliette Tu saje addó (tu saje…
Giovinezza Salve o popolo di eroi, salve o Patria immortale, son rina…
L'Elisir D'Amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima Una furtiva lagrima Negli occhi suoi spuntò, Quelle festose …
La canzone dell'amore Qual menestrello d'amor, piccola bimba del cuor, io vorrei n…
La donna è mobile La donna è mobile qual piuma al vento, Muta d′accento e…
La paloma La Paloma Beniamino Gigli Il dì che lasciai la terra pel va…
La Spagnola in Spagna sono la bella, Regina son dell'amor. Tutti mi dico…
Mamma Mama Mamma, son tanto felice perché ritorno da te. La…
Nessun dorma Nessun dorma Nessun dorma Nessun dorma Nessun dorma…
Non Ti Scordar Di Me Partirono le rondini dal mio paese freddo e senza sole, cerc…
O Sole Mio Che bella cosa na jurnata 'e sole, n'aria serena doppo…
Santa Lucia Sul mare luccica L'astro d'argento Placida è l'onda Prospero…
Se vuoi goder la vita Una casetta in campagna, un orticello, una vigna. Qui chi vi…
Ti voglio tanto bene Dimmi, che l'amore tuo non muore è come il sole…
Torna a Surriento Vide 'o mare quant'…

Turandot: Nessun Dorma Nessun dorma Nessun dorma Nessun dorma Nessun dorma…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

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