ABSTRACT
Italian basso, born in Rome. As a child he sang with the Sistine Chapel choir. In 1922 he made his operatic debut in Rome; he was at La Scala in 1926, and with the Chicago Civic Opera from 1930 to 1931. From 7 Dec 1940 (as Bartolo in Nozze di Figaro) to 14 Feb 1962 he sang with the Metropolitan Opera. His repertoire covered 150 roles, most of them basso buffo parts, but including Wotan in Siegfried. Among Baccaloni’s greatest recordings were those made for Columbia from 1926 to 1932. These included two fine solos and a duet from Elisir d’amore (#CQ75; #CQX16451, later #71383D), and the role of Bartolo in the complete recording of Barbiere di Siviglia (#D14564-79). In 1936 he was Leporello in the outstanding recording of Don Giovanni made at the Glyndebourne Festival (Victor VM 423-425). Baccaloni was heard as Alcindoro in complete recordings of Boheme made at La Scala (Columbia D14515-14527) and at the Metropolitan (Columbia OP27). He died in New York.
