Antonio Giuglini
(1827-1865)

Born at Fano in Italy in 1827, Giuglini first sang in London at Her Majesty’s Theatre, where he appeared from 1857 to 1858. He was the first London Riccardo in Verdi’s Un Ballo en Maschera. His sweet and high tenor voice met with equal success in the provinces and abroad.

In 1862 he went insane and a few years later on 12 October 1865 he died in an asylum at Pesaro in Italy.

'SIGNOR GIUGLINI'S CONCERT — The deep sympathy felt throughout the artistic world for the heavy misfortune which has befallen Signor Giuglini was on Saturday afternoon practically exhibited by a grand concert given at Hanover Square Rooms for the benefit of the afflicted singer, by a large number of distinguished English and Italian artists, of whom the foremost in talent as well as the most unremitting in her self-imposed exertions was that illustrious and still incomparable vocalist, Madame Grisi. The concert was largely attended by so elegant an audience as to make us hope that the receipts were considerable, and the unsparing efforts made by each artist to do the best that was possible upon so interesting an occasion were constantly received with corresponding sympathy on the part of the assembly. It could not, however, be otherwise than that the honours should rest with Madame Grisi, who appeared upon the platform no less than five separate times, and always to the infinite delight and profit of her auditors' (Birmingham Daily Gazette, 4 July 1865). 

'DEATH OF SIGNOR GIUGLINI — The lyric stage has sustained a great loss by the death of this distinguished artiste. For some time past, as is well known, no hopes have been entertained of his ultimate recovery. This celebrated tenor died on the 12 of this month in the lunatic asylum of Pesaro, and his body was conveyed the next day to Feanes, in the Roman States, where he was born in 1826. He received his early instructions from Cellini, Maestro di Capella at Ferino, and began his public career by singing in trifling duets between the acts at the theatre there. Subsequently he appeared at Venice, Milan, and Naples, where he soon became very popular. In 1857 he was engaged by Mr Lumley, at Her Majesty's Theatre, where he achieved a brilliant success, which he retained so long as he remained in England. He was also a great favourite at Madrid, Turin, and in fact in almost every continental capital. A short time since, King Victor Emmanuel conferred an annual allowance of 450f. on his son to facilitate his admission into a naval school' (Ilustrated Sporting News and Theatrical and Musical Review, 4 November 1865).