Luigi Alva

A fixture of Italy's La Scala opera, where he performed some 330 times as Count Almaviva in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia alone, Luigi Alva was among the most beloved of the pure bel canto singers active in the later 20th century. He specialized in Rossini, Mozart, Donizetti, and the other composers of bel canto opera but also incorporated Verdi and some more contemporary operas into his repertory. He was mentored by the soprano Maria Callas and left a large recorded repertory with her and other top singers. Recordings featuring Alva, including a 1968 recording of Il barbiere di Siviglia, continued to appear until his death in 2025.