12 Facts About Nino Martini

Nino Martini began his career as an opera singer in Italy before moving to the United States to pursue an acting career in films.

Nino Martini appeared in several Hollywood movies during the 1930s and 1940s while simultaneously working as a leading tenor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

In 1929, under the influence of Lasky, Nino Martini immigrated to the United States to pursue a film career.

Nino Martini made his US opera debut in 1931 in Philadelphia.

In 1933, Nino Martini joined the roster at the Metropolitan Opera, making his debut on December 28 as the Duke of Mantua.

Nino Martini appeared in several more productions at the Met over the next thirteen years, singing the roles of Alfredo in La traviata, Carlo in Linda di Chamounix, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Rodolfo in La boheme, and Ruggero in La rondine.

In 1945 Nino Martini portrayed Rodolfo to Grace Moore's Mimi for the inaugural performance of the San Antonio Grand Opera Festival.

Nino Martini eventually returned to Italy where he lived in Verona until his death in 1976.

Nino Martini possessed a warm lyric tenor voice that had a wide range and considerable amount of coloratura facility.

Nino Martini sang mostly within the Italian repertoire that encompassed the bel canto literature of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini, the grand operas of Giuseppe Verdi, and the verismo operas of Giacomo Puccini.

Nino Martini made a few recordings of opera arias for Columbia Records who produced the soundtracks to several of the films that he appeared in.

Nino Martini recorded some music with RCA Victor and recorded the entire role of Ernesto in Don Pasquale with the Metropolitan Opera in 1940 opposite Bidu Sayao in the title role.