Opera singer Giulio Neri
From Torrita to the Scala in Milan

Giulio Neri is an authentic singer and actor who meant a lot in the Italian world of opera of the 20th century. He was one of the founders of the romantic melodrama and he has had a lot of influence on the lyrical theatre of the last decennia. Few people have been able to equal this. Even though he became famous in the theaters of Rome, Florence and Milan, he never forgot his love for his natal village Torrita di Siena.

In his childhood, Neri's deep, dark voice was already noticed. His friends gave him the nickname ‘Bronzone'. When he was 15 years old, he already sung in the main church of Torrita. He loved solemnities, especially marriages. In one of the matrimonial parties the earl Galeotti Ottieri della Ciaia was deeply touched by Neri's pure bass voice. The earl decided to pay the studies of the talented pupil in Rome. Neri had only studied a bit more than year when he won the prestigeous contest ‘Concorso del Maggio Musicale Fiorentina'. There weren't only important contestants, but also some great names among the members of the jury.

His career took off with a bang. Neri was not only a unique singer, he also loved his characters and brought them to life on stage. In Rome, but also outside the capital, he appeared more and more on stage, even in the famous Scala in Milan.

Tightrope walker
Wherever Neri appeared on stage, the public was touched by his particular voice. His character ‘Mefisto' the devil was the most noted one. Neri had a great and imposing stature but when he played Mefisto he moved over the stage as a tightrope walker. Despite his big succes, Torrita di Siena remained a fixed value in his life. If he had a moment of time, he returned to the village where he was discovered. His wife called him a real campanilista, someone who is devoted to the clock tower of his hometown. He was dedicated to Torrita and wanted to return after his retirement, just like he went back there every Christmas to sing in the church.

Unfortunetely, Giulio Neri suffered from a heart disease. He ignored the advice of his doctor because he adored singing and he worked too hard. Just before he died, he was still working on three different plays and he had just signed a contract for a complete recording of Rossiniano. He never struggled for attention. He always said: “Io sono quello che sono, chi mi vuole sono qui”. (I am here for whoever takes me for who I am).

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- This site was realised thanks to the co-operation between the town council and the inhabitants of Torrita di Siena and ten graduated students 2004 from the “Katholieke Hogeschool Mechelen”, Belgium, department communication science, campus De Ham. - © Torrita di Siena