Rolando Panerai, an Italian baritone who sang more than 150 roles at leading international opera houses, made many classic recordings and appeared frequently with the celebrated soprano Maria Callas in her prime, died on Oct. 22 at his home outside Florence, Italy. His death, in the hillside town of Settignano, came after a brief illness, said the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the arts festival run under the auspices of the Florence opera, where Mr. Panerai performed for decades. Mr. Panerai was widely admired throughout his 65-year operatic career for his full-bodied sound and the elegance of his singing . Steeped in the Italian vocal heritage, he sang with supple phrasing and evenness through his entire vocal range. If not the most charismatic presence onstage, he readily conveyed authority and dramatic depth and brought a light comedic touch to the title roles of Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” and Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville,” among many other characters.

Source: International New York Times October 30, 2019 14:16 UTC