Lando Bartolini Has Passed Away

The Italian tenor Lando Bartolini has passed away. A native of Prato, Italy, Lando started studying voice in Philadelphia at the Academy of Vocal Arts with Nicola Moscona. Soon after, also in Philadelphia, he made his operatic debut as Luigi in IL TABARRO in 1968. He enjoyed an early success in Mascagni’s IRIS at the Teatro Liceu in Barcelona, and became a member of the Saint Gallen Opera. 

Lando joined the New York City Opera in 1976, appearing there until 1979. His Italian debut came in 1982 as Ernani at La Scala. He sang at the Teatro Colón, at the Arena di Verona, at Hamburg, Berlin, Chicago, Vienna, Munich, Naples, Lisbon, Tokyo, Catania, Parma, Turin, Firenze, San Francisco, Rome, Washington DC, at Covent Garden, and in Sydney.

Bartolini made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera on tour in Boston in 1986, as Cavaradossi. He continued singing at The Met thru 1996, appearing as Manrico, Andrea Chenier, Calaf, and Radames. I saw him at The Met in AIDA opposite Leona Mitchell and Stefania Toczyska, and as Cavaradossi opposite Anna Tomowa-Sintow. He was a passionate singer, and his voice had real cutting power.

My favorite memory of Lando Bartolini was in LA BOHEME at the New York City Opera in 1976, opposite a very young Catherine Malfitano. He was a handsome, ardent poet whose “Che gelida manina” won strong applause; then he sat on the floor at Mimi’s feet as she told her story in “Mi chiamano Mimi.” Their love duet was youthful and rapturous.

Lando sings Andrea Chenier’s Improviso here, and Pinkerton’s “Addio, fiorito asil” here.