Michele Mariacher

An Italian dramatic tenor, remembered for the size and power of his voice. Born in Venice, he worked in the family piano factory until 1888, when he made his debut at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan in Rigoletto, and there in 1889 created Roberto in the revised Le villi. He sang at La Scala from 1890, toured South America for two seasons under Toscanini, and had his greatest successes at the Teatro Real in Madrid, where a critic ranked his Otello second only to Tamagno's. He retired in 1906 and taught young singers in Venice without charge.