The Italian tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano (born 24 July 1921) is a famous opera singer whose career spanned from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. He is best known for his long association with Maria Callas, with whom he performed and recorded many times and with whom he was briefly romantically involved. In music, a tenor is a male singer with a high voice (although not as high as a countertenor). ... July 24 is the 205th day (206th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 160 days remaining. ... 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The foyer of Charles Garniers Opéra, Paris, opened 1875 Opera is an art form consisting of a dramatic stage performance set to music. ... Maria Callas in the title role of Donizettis opera Anna Bolena, La Scala, Milan (1957) Maria Callas (December 2, 1923 –September 16, 1977) was a Greek-American soprano and perhaps the best-known opera singer of the post-World War II period. ...

Di Stefano was born in Motta Santa Anastasia, a village near Catania, Sicily. He was the only son of a carabiniere turned cobbler and his dressmaker wife. Di Stefano was educated at a Jesuit seminary and briefly contemplated entering the priesthood. Location within Italy Catania is the second largest city of Sicily with 306,464 inhabitants, has the second highest population density on the island and is the capital of the province which bears its name. ... Sicily (Sicilia in Italian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,700 sq. ... The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ...

Di Stefano made his operatic debut in 1946 in Reggio Emilia as Des Grieux in Massenet's Manon, the role with which he made his La Scala debut the following year. He made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1948 as the Duke in Rigoletto, and he went to perform regularly in New York for many years. In 1957, Di Stefano made his British debut at the Edinburgh Festival as Nemorino in L'Elisir d'Amore and his Royal Opera House, Covent Garden debut in 1961 as Cavaradossi in Tosca. Reggio Emilia is a town of North Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. ... Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (May 12, 1842 - August 13, 1912) was a French composer. ... Manon is an opera by Jules Massenet. ... La Scala The Teatro alla Scala (or La Scala for short), in Milan, Italy, is one of the worlds most famous opera houses. ... The Metropolitan Opera is located at Lincoln Center in New York, New York. ... Rigoletto is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. ... The Edinburgh Festival is a collection of various festivals in August of each year in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... Lelisir damore (The Elixir of Love) is a comic opera in two acts by Gaetano Donizetti to an Italian libretto by Felice Romani, based on Eugène Scribes Le Philtre. ... The Floral Hall of the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is a performing arts venue in London. ... Covent Garden is a shopping and entertainment complex in central London. ... Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Victorien Sardous drama, La Tosca. ...

As a singer, Di Stefano was admired for his excellent diction, unique timbre, and passionate delivery, and particularly for his sweet silky soft tones. In his Metropolitan radio debut in Faust he attacked the high C forte and then softened to a pianissimo. Rudolf Bing said this was the most beautiful sound he ever heard come out of a human throat. In spite of his incredible technique, allergies and his taking on heavier roles not really suited for a lyric tenor, by the mid 1960s had all but ended his brilliant operatic career. In 1973, he accompanied Maria Callas on her final recital tour, an undertaking that was eventually aborted in 1974 due to the vocal shortcomings of both singers. His final operatic role was as the aged emperor in Turandot in July 1992. Maria Callas in the title role of Donizettis opera Anna Bolena, La Scala, Milan (1957) Maria Callas (December 2, 1923 –September 16, 1977) was a Greek-American soprano and perhaps the best-known opera singer of the post-World War II period. ...

In December, 2004, Di Stefano was critically injured in his home in Diani, Kenya after a brutal beating by unknown attackers. The retired singer was ambushed in his car with his wife as they prepared to drive from their villa in Diani, a coastal resort near Mombasa on the Indian Ocean. As if December 7, the singer was still unconscious a week after the attack and being fed intravenously, with doctors hopeful of recovery after several operations. He has since been flown to Milan Italy, is out of a coma and is improving.(Dec. 18, 2004) Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya. ... December 7 is the 341st day (342nd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External link

• Opera star critical after attack in Kenya (The Guardian)