Giuseppe de Luca

Although he had nothing like the brazen power of a Titta Ruffo or any of the other large-voiced baritones of his time, Giuseppe de Luca made up in refinement what he may have lacked in shear volume. His mastery of vocal technique allowed him to produce a finely concentrated tone that carried well and to sing with nearly undiminished quality into advanced age. In his stagecraft, too, de Luca was adept, creating memorable characterizations without ever chewing the scenery. Over his long career, he made many recordings, nearly all of them representing him at his best. As a yout...