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1873–1921
One of opera’s first global superstars, this Italian tenor thrilled audiences with a warm, powerful voice and helped turn recorded music into a mass phenomenon. His fame reached far beyond the opera house, making him one of the best-known singers of the early 20th century.

by Enrico Caruso, Luisa Tetrazzini

by Dame Clara Butt, Enrico Caruso, Ben Davies, Dame Nellie Melba
Born in Naples on February 25, 1873, he rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most celebrated tenors in opera. He built his reputation in Italy in the 1890s and went on to conquer major stages in Europe and the United States, especially the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he became a defining star.
He was admired for both the beauty and emotional directness of his singing, and he also became famous through early gramophone recordings. Those recordings carried his voice to listeners who never set foot in an opera house and helped make him one of the first truly international recording celebrities.
Caruso died in Naples on August 2, 1921, but his influence lasted well beyond his lifetime. For many listeners, he remains a symbol of the golden age of opera: a singer whose artistry, charisma, and recorded legacy kept his voice alive for generations.