Nicola Zaccaria facts for kids
Nicola Zaccaria (born Nicholas Angelos Zachariou, March 9, 1923 – July 24, 2007) was a famous Greek opera singer. He had a very deep voice, known as a bass. Bass singers are important in opera for their strong, low notes.
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Early Life and Music Career
Nicola Zaccaria was born in Piraeus, a city in Greece. He loved music from a young age. He studied singing at the Athens Conservatory, a special music school. In 1949, when he was 26 years old, he sang for the first time in an opera. This is called his "debut."
In 1953, Zaccaria started singing at La Scala, a very famous opera house in Italy. This was a big step in his career. He became one of the main bass singers at La Scala for almost 15 years. This means he sang many important roles there.
Working with Famous Singers
Nicola Zaccaria sang with some of the greatest opera stars of his time. He performed alongside legendary singers like Maria Callas, Leontyne Price, and Franco Corelli. Working with such talented people helped him become even better.
He had a very successful career around the world. He recorded more than 30 operas. This means his voice was captured on recordings for people to listen to for many years.
Operas Recorded with Maria Callas
Zaccaria recorded nine complete operas with the famous soprano, Maria Callas. Here are some of them:
- Aida (1955) – He sang the role of the King of Egypt.
- Rigoletto (1955) – He played Sparafucile.
- Il trovatore (1956) – He was Ferrando.
- La Boheme (1956) – He sang as Colline.
- Un ballo in maschera (1956) – He played Tom.
- Il barbiere di Siviglia (1957) – He was Don Basilio.
- La sonnambula (1957) – He sang as Count Rodolfo.
- Turandot (1957) – He played Timur.
- Norma (1960) – He was Oroveso.
Sometimes, Nicola Zaccaria used a different name for recordings. He recorded under the name Giulio Mauri for some operas, including Il trovatore and Turandot.
Later Years and Legacy
Nicola Zaccaria passed away in Athens, Greece, on July 24, 2007. He was 84 years old. He is remembered as one of the most important bass singers of his generation. His recordings continue to teach and inspire new opera singers and fans.
