Anselmo Colzani, 87; Baritone Sang With the Met for 16 Seasons
Anselmo Colzani, 87, an Italian baritone whose powerful yet versatile voice resounded at Milan’s La Scala and New York’s Metropolitan opera houses, died Sunday.
Colzani, who died in a nursing home in Milan, had suffered a lengthy illness, said Marina Boagno, president of the Franco Corelli Opera Assn. She did not give a cause of death.
The baritone sang alongside some of the greatest stars of opera, including Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi.
As a young soprano, Tebaldi was on the stage with Colzani when he made his debut in 1946 in Bologna’s city opera house in “Lohengrin,” Boagno said. Six years later, Colzani made his first appearance in Italy’s most prestigious opera house, La Scala, called to substitute for Gino Bechi in “Cavalleria Rusticana.” His U.S. debut was in San Francisco in 1956.
Colzani sang with the Met for 16 seasons, specializing in Italian opera, while still appearing in European opera houses.
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