Francesco Merli (Corsico 1887 – Milano 1976) He studied in his hometown, then making his debut at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan in 1916, in the role of Alvaro in Fernando Cortez of Gaspare Spontini. On September 12, 1918 in Elisero before Moïse et Pharaon by Rossini directed by Tullio Serafin with Nazzareno De Angelis and December sings in the world premiere of Urania Alberto Favara Scala.In 1919 at the Teatro San Carlo in direct Naples from Leopoldo Mugnone is Luigi in Il tabard with Domenico Viglione Borghese and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with Gilda Dalla Rizza and Viglione Borghese and the Bologna Paolo Teatro Comunale in Francesca da Rimini (Zandonai) directed by Serafin Giuseppe Nessi, in 1920 Walter von Stolzing in the Mastersingers of direct Nuremberg Serafin Maria Zamboni, Ernesto Badini and Enrico Molinari at the Teatro Regio in Turin and in 1921 in Bologna Walter directly Loreley by Serafin and at the Teatro Regio in Parma Enzo in La Gioconda with Giannina Arangi-Lombardi.He has performed in many European and American theaters, including Covent Garden in London, where he was the first performer of Calaf in Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, also performing on tour in Belgium and Australia. She sang regularly as part of the opera season at La Scala and in that of the Rome Opera, where in the thirties of the twentieth century was celebrated in parts of Othello, Dick Johnson (La Fanciulla del West), Samson and Don José (Carmen).He has sung at the Metropolitan in New York four operas (Aida, Lucia di Lammermoor, Simon Boccanegra and Madama Butterfly) in 1932, alongside famous artists such as Lily Pons, Giuseppe De Luca, Ezio Pinza, Lawrence Tibbett (Simon and Amonasro). On 20 March 1932 he sang Ah well ... My Di quella pira, at the conclusion of a benefit concert held at the Met, alongside Georges Thill, content already established and acclaimed worldwide. The young Merli was appreciated so much that he was invited to take part in another gala concert on April 10 of that year, along with Lauritz Melchior, specializing Wagnerian tenor, has a very powerful voice.Blackbirds sang along with mezzo Dreda Aves duet from Aida adunasi Already the priests and the air from the Force of Destiny O you who have agl'angeli breast. In the same concert also he performed Lily Pons in three passages of virtuosity.The role but gave more fame to Merli content was undoubtedly the Otello by Giuseppe Verdi, sumptuous interpretation and historically important because then gave inspiration to the next great Mario del Monaco and Plácido Domingo. It was the interpreter of this role in many theaters around the world, offering its last run of Othello in Trieste in 1946, in concert, in the thirty years of his career.Photo autograph of the famous tenor dated 12.05.1922. Photography; 24,8x18,2 cm Excellent condition