Melchiorre Luise


Melchiorre Luise was a leading exponent of the operatic basso buffo repertoire.
In 1925, he made his debut as a baritone, but soon embarked on the classic roles of the basso buffo. He was seen at the Teatro alla Scala from 1938, and debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in 1947, where he sang until 1950.
At the Met, Luise appeared as the Innkeeper in Manon, the Sacristan in Tosca, as the Bonze in Madama Butterfly, as Benoît and Alcindoro in La bohème, as Dr Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia, as Maestro Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi, and as Geronte de Revoir in Manon Lescaut. His final performance with the company was Edward Johnson's final night as General Manager: Tosca.
His appearances at the Scala include Il cedulo, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Don Pasquale, La bohème, Tosca, La Wally, I quartro Rusteghi, and, again, Il barbiere.
Luise's studio recordings include Don Pasquale, Il barbiere di Siviglia, L'elisir d'amore, and, most notably, Tosca.
The bass died in Milan, at the age of seventy, and is buried in that city's Cimitero Maggiore.