FAMOUS TENOR RETURNS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28399, 4 October 1957, Page 8

FAMOUS TENOR RETURNS

Two Concerts In Christchurch

Luigi Infantino, world-famous operatic tenor, will return to Christchurch this month when he will give two concerts in the Majestic Theatre, on October 17 and 19. This will be his second visit to Christchurch, as he was here in June, 1955. Born in Sicily, the eldest of six children of a postal official, Luigi Infantino first studied singing seriously at the age of 15, at the Conservatory in Palermo. As he could not afford lessons for more than a year, he joined a Navy band as a flautist, and did not think of singing again until he was 19. He studied at Parma, the birthplace of Verdi for two years, and made his debut at the Royal Opera House there in 1943, in

“La Boheme.’’ About the time he started his career Allied troops were in Italy, and he joined the San Carlo Opera House in Naples where he stayed for two years, entertaining the soldiers. In 1947 he achieved his life's ambition of singing at La Scala, Milan, and he was probably one of the youngest tenors to become a recognised star at this famous theatre, as he was 25 at the time. Since then he has toured North and South America. Scandinavia. Israel and the Middle East, and most of Europe. He toured New Zealand and Australia in 1955. Luigi Infantino is also wellknown as a composer, and has had many of his compositions published. His wife, Italian dramatic actress Sara Ferratti, is well known in Italy. They have a six-year-old daughter. On the night before his final concert in Melbourne, on his recent Australian tour, he was injured in a car accident He was knocked unconscious and suffered bruising. In spite of the accident, he appeared that evening, and delighted the audience with his singing.