He was born in Bassano del Grappa (North Italy) on 24/10/1913. He studied singing in Rome with Giulio Crimi. He first appeared in the town Gubbio as Count Rodolfo (La sonnambula) in 1935. He continued studies at the School of La Scalla di Milano on a scholarship (1936). In 1937 he appeared at the Teatro Adriano in Rome as Alfredo Germon (La traviata). From 1938 he became a regular singer at the Opera of Rome, achieving international recognition.There he was extremely successful in the role of the same name in the opera Wozzeck (1942, first presentation in Italy). He was distinguished in comic roles such as Belcore (L'elisir d'amore) in his first appearance at the Scalla di Milano under Tullio Serafin (1942). Before the war he also sang in Venice, Florence, Trieste. After the war he started an international career. During the 1950s he was internationally sought after. He first appeared in the USA at the San Francisco opera as Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia) (1948). He would sing repeatedly at the New York Metropolitan Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago (1954/73) and the London Royal Opera House (1951/74, mostly in Verdi operas). The role of Baron Scarpia (Tosca) was emblematic in his career, a role he performed more than eight hundred times among others in the London Royal Opera, directed by Zeffirelli, with Maria Callas as co-protagonist (1964). His repertoire included around one hundred roles. He was also involved in opera direction (1962/82). He participated in 26 cinema films, among them filmed operas (1937/59). His extensive discography includes mainly works by Verdi and Puccini (EMI,Decca, CBS/Sony, MYTO,DG). He passed away on 5/3/1984. At the Greek National Opera he appeared once, as Iago in Otello (1964/65, Odeon of Herodes Atticus). // Last update of the biography: January 2019 - The list of the productions below is completed.