- One of the most famous tenors of his time, he sang the role of Mario Cavaradossi in Maria Callas's famous 1953 recording of "Tosca", considered one of the greatest operatic recordings ever made. He also sang the role of the Duke of Mantua in Callas's studio recording of "Rigoletto", as well as her studio recordings of "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci". He also sang the tenor part in Arturo Toscanini's 1951 performance of Verdi's "Requiem Mass".
- He made his operatic debut in 1946 as Des Grieux in "Manon". He first sang at the Met in New York in 1948.
- Never fully recovered from wounds sustained in a robbery at his family's villa in Kenya in November 2004. The tenor had been struck in the head during an attack by five assailants at his home.
- Legendary lyric-dramatic tenor sang with distinction all over the world (La Scala, Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Colon, among many others) until taking on too many heavy roles too early cost him his voice. He may still be heard at his best on the many recordings he made in his prime, particularly "Tosca", "Pagliacci" and "Lucia di Lammermoor" opposite his close friend and frequent on-stage partner, Maria Callas. His recordings of the traditional Neopolitan songs have also been much-praised.
- His final performance was in 1992 as the emperor in "Turandot".
- He accompanied Maria Callas on her final recital tour in 1973.
- His father was a cobbler and his mother was a dressmaker.
- Maestro Di Stefano won the Italian Golden Orfeo (an Italian award similar to an Oscar) award in 1955 for his contribution to the art of opera. Also a member of the Opera Hall of Fame. And a recipient of Grammy Hall of Fame award for his 1953 recording of the opera "Tosca" along with his co-stars Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi and conductor Victor de Sabata - award was issued in 1987.
- In 1973, Di Stefano and Maria Callas went together for a recital tour that ended in 1974: critics remarked that Maria Callas had lost her voice, but the public reaction was nevertheless enthusiastic everywhere. It was during this period that there were rumors of a brief romantic relationship between the two singers.
- In 1951, Di Stefano sang in a performance of Verdi's Requiem, at Carnegie Hall, conducted by Arturo Toscanini, the other soloists being Herva Nelli, Fedora Barbieri and Cesare Siepi. It was released as a recording by RCA.
- A series of duets with Di Stefano and Callas was recorded by the Philips label in the period November-December 1972, with Antonio de Almeida conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. These recordings were not published officially, but a 'pirate' version did appear.
- In his Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast debut in Faust, he attacked the high C forte and then softened to a pianissimo. Sir Rudolf Bing said in his memoirs, "The most spectacular single moment in my observation year had come when I heard his diminuendo on the high C in "Salut! demeure" in Faust: I shall never as long as I live forget the beauty of that sound".
- He was admired for his vocal skills, clear diction, passionate phrasing, captivating interpretation and the exquisite lightness of pianissimo and shades.
- When he was 16, he burst into song after losing a game of cards, and the friend with whom he was playing said he must get his voice trained. Two years later he began studying in earnest with the baritones Luigi Montesanto and Mariano Stabile, the latter impressing on the young tenor the importance of clear diction, advice he readily followed.
- His last public appearance was on 24 October 2004 in Oderzo to receive an award.
- Di Stefano had a natural musicality, with a generous, instinctive and communicative style of singing.
- Di Stefano was educated at a Jesuit seminary and briefly contemplated entering the priesthood.[4.
- Di Stefano can be placed in the tradition of tenori lirici post-romantic of the Italian and French repertoire, where he gave memorable performances especially in the first part of his career (Rigoletto, La traviata, La bohème, The pearl fishermen, Manon, Faust). In the following years he developed into roles of the lyrical repertoire, with more drive and drama (Tosca, La forza del destino, Turandot, Carmen, up to Pagliacci and Andrea Chénier).
- On 3 December 2004, he was seriously injured during a robbery at his home in Diani Beach in Kenya by unknown assailants who left him on the ground bloodied and unconscious. After being admitted to a hospital in Mombasa, his condition proved to be more serious than it had appeared at first. After undergoing at least three operations, he went into a coma on 7 December. On 23 December, he was transferred to Italy, where he was hospitalised in Milan. Eventually he awoke from the coma, but his health never fully improved.
- During his years of international celebrity, Di Stefano won a gold Orfeo, an Italian musical award.
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