Cesare Badiali

Cesare Badiali was an Italian baritone opera singer. He was born in Bologna in 1810 and died on 17 November 1865. He debuted in Trieste in 1827. alt=A lithograph of Cesare Badiali by Josef Kriehuber, 1839

Biography Badiali was born in Bologna in 1810. During his childhood, his family moved to Imola. Here, young Badiali began to study double bass and lute, using his new skills to perform in the churches of Imola and occasionally elsewhere as an amateur singer. As he moved into his adulthood, he abandoned music for a more secure job as a tax collector, as soon he would take a wife and desire a family. However, while in Bologna for pleasure in 1827, the famed Giovanni Tadolini discovered his talents and encouraged him to make a career out of his voice, as did his future manager Bassi. The two met again in Paris in 1859 at Italian Theater.

Influence The Italian's voice inspired many. Acclaimed American poet Walt Whitman reminisced about the influence of Badiali, stating: "My younger life was so saturated with the emotions, raptures, up-lifts, of such musical experiences [as hearing Cesare Badiali]...".