Nicola Benedetti
Birthplace: Pollenza, Papal States
An Italian bass who created Banquo in Macbeth at the Teatro della Pergola in Florence in 1847. The part had been planned as a secondary one, and Verdi gave it the aria "Come dal ciel precipita" after hearing him. Born at Pollenza, near Macerata, he studied in Bologna. He created Filippo in Mabellini's Maria di Francia at the Pergola in 1846, and also sang in I Lombardi, Ernani, Attila and I masnadieri. He left the stage in 1868, spent his last years in Pollenza, and died in 1875.
Creations
- Banco — Macbeth (Florence, 1847)
Written from
- Rescigno, E. (2001) 'Benedetti, Nicola', in Dizionario verdiano. Milan: Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli, p. 87.
- Unilibro (n.d.) Nicola Benedetti celebre basso verdiano (1821-1875), by Fabio Sileoni (Andrea Livi Editore, 2021). Bookseller's description. (Accessed: 14 October 2026).
- Casaglia, G. (n.d.) 'Nicola Benedetti', in L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia. (Accessed: 14 October 2026).