Antonio Cortis

Antonio Cortis was a leading Spanish lyric tenor in the first half of the 20th century. He was known both for his rich, lively voice, and for being the protégé of Enrico Caruso. Cortis was born aboard a ferry traveling from Algeria to Spain on the Alboran Sea in 1891. His father passed away shortly before his birth, and he was raised by his mother in Madrid. She encouraged him to pursue music, and when he was eight years old, he began studying composition and violin at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid. However, he quickly changed his focus to singing after his profe...