Benvenuto Franci (Pienza1891 – Roma 1985) Franci studied opera singing at the Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome with the baritone Antonio Cotogni and Enrico Rosati.He made his debut at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome in the role of Giannetto Lodoletta opera by Pietro Mascagni in 1918, and soon after, in Rome, played the role of the Pharaoh in Moses by Rossini, and Ford in Verdi's Falstaff. Later she sang in the world premiere opera by Mascagni The small Marat, and as Amonasro in Verdi's Aida.His career continued successfully at the Liceu in Barcelona, ​​Teatro Real in Madrid, Arena di Verona, at Covent Garden in London (where he sang as Scarpia in Tosca in 1925 with Jeritza in Rigoletto in 1931 and in Andrea Chénier in 1946 ), at the Paris Opera, in Berlin, at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires (1926-1930). At the Teatro alla Scala sang since 1923. At Costanzi in Rome took part, playing Chiaramantesi Blacks, the world premiere of The Supper of the Pranks by Umberto Giordano, and was able to play the title role of William Tell Rossini, next to Giacomo Lauri-Volpi content, edition of the centenary.Franci worked steadily at the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome from 1928 to 1949, where he was able to work with great colleagues and illustrious directors as the Master Gino Marinuzzi. His repertoire included the roles of Verdi and the verismo, so it was a great Iago in Otello, Count di Luna in Il Trovatore, starring in Rigoletto and Simon Boccanegra, as was Gerard nell'Andrea Chenier by Giordano, Scarpia in Tosca, Jack Rance in La Fanciulla del West; It was also a great Figaro in The Barber of Seville by Rossini and starring in William Tell.Franci was a very versatile opera singer, excelled not only for his vocal talents, but also for interpretation. His voice was beautiful and stamped, and well suited to dramatic roles, engaged the baritone repertoire.Franci's daughter, Marcella, was a good soprano and sang after World War II, and his son Charles (born 1927) was a famous conductor and composer. He was stable conductor of the Radio Orchestra in Dublin and Director of the Rome Opera and La Fenice in Venice in numerous opera seasons. He composed the opera The Emperor, with libretto by Luigi Silori, represented for the first time in the Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo in 1958.Photo autograph of the famous baritone to the theater La Scala dated 1940. Photography; 23,7x18,2 cm Excellent condition