Lorenzo Salvi

He took voice lessons in Naples, where he also made his debut at the tender age of 19, in the world premiere of Donizetti's Diluvio universale on February 28th, 1830, in the secondary bass (!) role of Cam. He went on to Zadar and Rome (1831–33), where sang (now definitely a tenor) in Rossini's Otello opposite Maria Malibran, and in another Donizetti world premiere, Il furioso all'isola di San Domingo. He was to sing in three more Donizetti world premieres: Betly (Naples 1836), Gianni di Parigi (La Scala 1839) and Adelia (Rome 1841); as well as in the premieres of Verdi's first two operas, Oberto (1839) and Un giorno di regno (1840), both at La Scala.

Back to chronological order: from Rome, he went on to Naples (various theaters, from 1834), Genova (Teatro Carlo Felice, where he was particularly successful in 1836 and 1838), Torino (Teatro Regio, 1840 and 1843), and to Milano (La Scala, 1839–42). In 1843, he was in Paris for Lucia di Lammermoor at the Théâtre des Italiens, then in St. Petersburg (1844/45). In 1844 and every year from 1847 to 1850, he appeared in London, and he made several trips to the USA (e. g. 1851, 1859). He also sang in Vienna (1839–43, 1847), in Cuba, and he premiered the Mexican National Anthem in 1854.

Further roles in his repertory were Nemorino, Tonio (La fille du régiment), Arnold, Gennaro, Elvino, Don Ottavio, Riccardo (Maria di Rohan).

After retiring, he taught voice in Bologna.

Reference 1: Kutsch & Riemens, reference 2, reference 3, reference 4