Martini, Nino (1902-1976)

Martini, Nino

OPERA SINGER, ACTOR (ITALY)

BORN 7 Aug 1902, Verona, Veneto - DIED 9 Dec 1976, Verona, Veneto
GRAVE LOCATION Verona, Veneto: Cimitero Monumentale, Piazzale del Cimitero (Zona B2, Edicola 58 (mausoleum))

The operatic tenor Nino Martini was the grandson of Venceslao Tauber, who came to Verona as a military member of the Austrian government. His father was a custodian of the tomb of Juliet in Verona. After his father's death in 1913, his mother became the custodian from 1915 to 1918. During that period Nino became passionate about horses and he became an excellent rider.

In 1920 he was presented to the soprano Lucia Crestani and he studied with her until 1925. He also studied with Giovanni Zenatello (1876-1949) and Maria Gay (1976-1943). He officially debuted in 1927 in Treviglio in Verdi's "Rigoletto". During a concert tour in Europe, he was noticed by Jesse L. Lasky in Paris. Lasky gave him several speaking roles in Italian in short films. In 1929 he left for the US. He appeared in the film "Paramount on Parade" in 1930. In 1931 he made his US opera debut in Philadelphia.

From 1933 to 1946 he appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. In between he had roles in further Hollywood movies, including "The Gay Desperado" (1936) and "Music for Madame" (1937). His last film was "One Night With You" in 1948. In the 1950s he mostly performed as a singer on the radio. After his return to Italy, he lived in his native Verona. He died in that city in 1976.

Images

The mausoleum of Nino Martini at the Cimitero Monumentale in Verona, Veneto.
Picture by Androom (28 Aug 2022)