Schipa, Great Italian Tenor, Dead

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30939, 21 December 1965, Page 16

Schipa, Great Italian Tenor, Dead

«VJI.PA.-lteirt»r-C»p»rio*«> ROMS, December, 19. Tito Schipe, e« ef Italy* greatest tenors, has died to New York, aged 7A Mr Sddpa died last night in a New York hospital. He was admitted a few days ago becauee of cosnpticatiooe from rt *Mr'’schipa was born In Lecce, southern Italy in 188 D. He made his debut as Alfredo in Verdi’s “U ttrnriata” at the age of 21, Defining a remarkably long career. He did not retire from opera until 1954 and he continued to stag in recitals until quite recent yean. He was particulariy famous for his stylish singing of the lighter lyric roles in French and Italian operas by such composers as Rossini Donizetti, Bellini and Massenet One of his famous contemporaries, Benjamino Gigli said of him: "Though there werei many fine tenors staging during the twenties, thirties and forties, who were endowed with greater vocal potential than Scbipa, when he sang we ail had to bow to his greetnoss ” Mr Schipa sang regularly in the leading opera houses of Italy, Spain, and North and South America. He was with the Chicago Civic Opera Company for 101

/years until 1832; when he joined the Metropolitan Opera in New Yost.