Scipio Colombo

Born in Vicenza, Italy, Colombo first studied philosophy at the University of Padua, before turning to music.

Throughout World War II, he sang at most of the major opera houses of Italy, including the Teatro alla Scala.

He created roles in contemporary Italian works, notably in Dallapiccola's Il prigioniero (Florence, 1950), and Pizzetti's Cagliostro (La Scala, 1953).

[1] In 1957, the singing-actor sang the Baron Scarpia to Magda Olivero's first Floria Tosca, for RAI (a performance published on Compact Discs, by Opera Depot).

In 1956, the baritone portrayed Ford in a film of Falstaff for RAI, with Giuseppe Taddei in the name part, Tullio Serafin conducting, and Herbert Graf directing.