2017 BARITONE TITTA RUFFO FIRST DAY COVER

Description

On 21 June 2017 the Monaco Post Office issued a stamp honouring the Pisa-born Italian baritone TITTA RUFFO. He was well known throughout Europe and had a brilliant carrer. He is famous for his Prologue (Pagliacci) which he ended with a most powerful, yet unsurpassed leonine G. He earned the sobriquet “the singing lion”. Although some critics profile him as a vehement deliverer, Ruffo actually was more than capable to produce a mellow and levitating sound ranging from sweet to iridescent, to emotional. Celletti points out that Ruffo had an extraordinary breath supply; he was a darling of recording companies because his many records sold in large quantities worldwide. A close relative of the Italian opposition leader Giacomo Matteotti who was murdered by the fascists, Ruffo was also ostracized by the fascist regime and after 1931 he decided not to sing in Italy. His autobiography was published in 1936.