Antonio Selva

Antonio Selva (1824 - September 1889) was an Italian operatic bass who had an active international career from the 1840s through the 1870s.

He made his professional opera debut in 1842 in one of the smaller theatre's in his home town as Zaccaria in Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco.

At the age of 19, he was chosen by Verdi to portray what was written as the comprimario role of de Silva in the world premiere of the composer's Ernani at La Fenice on 9 March 1844.

[2] Selva was soon invited to sign significant roles at leading opera houses throughout Italy.

In 1849 he created the role of Count Walter in the world premiere of Verdi's Luisa Miller in Naples.