Aureliano Pertile

An Italian tenor, Toscanini's favourite at La Scala and at his best the equal of any tenor in Italy. He made his debut at Vicenza in 1911 as Lionel in Martha. Fame came in 1922 with Mefistofele under Toscanini, and that year he created Des Grieux in the final version of Manon Lescaut. At La Scala until 1937 he sang Lohengrin, Chénier, Canio, Radames and Manrico, and created the title roles in the Nerone of both Boito and Mascagni. He sang one season at the Metropolitan Opera and five at Covent Garden, and later taught in Milan.