Antonio Selva

Antonio Selva was an Italian bass who created Silva in Verdi's Ernani at La Fenice in 1844 (chosen by Verdi from the theatre's chorus) and Count Walter in Luisa Miller at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples in 1849. Born Antonio Scremin in Padua, he first trained as an organ builder before his voice was discovered. He went on to sing in Rome and Milan and at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris, specialising in Verdi roles such as Zaccaria in Nabucco, and was engaged at the Teatro Real in Madrid from 1864 to 1874. He later taught singing in Padua.