Beniamino Gigli was heir to the crown of Enrico Caruso, the New York Metropolitan Opera’s undisputed tenorissimo. Recordings from 1918 to the early 1950s offer a vivid testament to Gigli’s natural vocal qualities: smoothness, warmth and lyric passion. Gigli was born to sing, and he used records, broadcasts and films to promote his music and career way beyond the confines of the opera house or concert hall. A country boy who made himself rich and famous, Gigli was a tenor in demand by the public, but also counted kings, princes, even Hitler and Mussolini, as ardent fans. In words and music, Graeme Kay explores the remarkable story of the man they called the ‘bantam of the opera’.

This series explores the lives of legendary performers of the past. Their colourful paths to enduring worldwide recognition are depicted through a combination of lively narration and authentic recordings.