Luigi Nardi

An Italian character tenor, celebrated in the supporting parts that call for particular colour and expression. After a debut at Desenzano del Garda as Arlecchino in Pagliacci, he sang leading roles such as Ernesto and Elvino for a time, but his short stature and the need to earn a living turned him to comprimario work, which made his name. His Mime and David, Malatestino in Francesca da Rimini, Cassio and Bardolfo became well known, and in 1922 he created Il Tinca in the second version of Il tabarro in Rome. His repertoire reached some two hundred operas.