Felice Varesi

Felice Varesi (1813 in Calais – 13 March 1889 in Milan) was a French-born Italian baritone with an illustrious singing career that began in the 1830s and extended into the 1860s.

He is best remembered today for his close association with several famous operas composed by Giuseppe Verdi, whose birth year he shared.

Specializing initially in the bel canto operas of Verdi's predecessor Gaetano Donizetti, Varesi began his career in Varese in 1834 and went on to sing in Faenza, Florence, Modena, Rome, Perugia and Genoa.

Here he created the role of Antonio in Donizetti's Linda di Chamounix as well as appearing in other works by the same composer.

Their daughter, Elena (1844–1920), also sang as a soprano, opening a singing school in Chicago following her retirement from the stage.