Apollo Granforte

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Apollo Granforte (July 20, 1886, Legnano - June 11, 1975, Milan) was an Italian baritone, one of the leading baritones of the inter-war period.

[edit] Life and Career

Granforte emigrated as a young man to Argentina, where he studied voice with Guido Capocci in Buenos Aires. He made his stage debut in Rosario, as Germont, in 1913.

After returning to Italy, he sang at the Rome Opera before making his debut at La Scala in Milan, as Amfortas, in 1921. In 1924, he went to Australia on tour with Nellie Melba. He quickly established himself in the great baritone roles of Verdi and Wagner, and also took part in the creation of Nerone by Mascagni in 1935.

After retiring from the stage, he taught at the Music Conservatory of Ankara, and later in Prague and Milan, where amongst his pupil was bass Raffaele Arié. He can be heard on recordings of Il trovatore, Otello, Pagliacci, and Tosca.

Granforte was part of the great Italian baritones of the inter-war period, alongside Mariano Stabile, Carlo Galeffi, etc.