Giuseppe Bentonelli

His real name was Joseph Hodirece Benton. At first, he studied medicine, subsequently moved to Chicago in order to study at the local musical college, and then to Italy for further study in Milan with Vittorio Vanza. He made his debut in 1928 at the Duse in Bologna in Traviata. He came back to the USA in 1934 and continued his career until 1960, singing in the most important houses. In his last year, he undertook a long recital tour. After retiring, he taught singing.

Chronology of his activity in Italy
1928	Bologna/T. Duse              Traviata (Alfredo)
1928	Genova/Politeama Genovese    Traviata (Alfredo)
1929	Mantova/T. Sociale           Manon (des Grieux)
1929	Modena/T. Municipale         Bohème (Rodolfo)
1929	Parma/Politeama Reinach      Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1931	Bari/T. Petruzzelli          Faust (Faust)
1931	Bari/T. Petruzzelli          Bohème (Rodolfo)
1931	Cairo/Khediviale             Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1931	Cairo/Khediviale             Bohème (Rodolfo)
1931	Cairo/Khediviale             Rigoletto (Duca di Mantova)
1931	Cairo/Khediviale             Anima allegra di F. Vittadini
1931	Pavia/T. Fraschini           Lucia di Lammermoor (Edgardo)
1931	Ravenna/T. Alighieri         Bohème (Rodolfo)
1932	Asti/T. Alfieri              Manon Lescaut (des Grieux)
1932	Bolzano/T. Civico            Turandot (Calaf)
1932	Cesena/T. Comunale           Andrea Chénier (Chénier)
1932	Padova/T. Verdi              Faust (Faust)
1932	Torino/Italian Radio Season  Bohème (Rodolfo)
1932	Vercelli/T. Civico           Tosca (Cavaradossi)
1933	Bari/T. Petruzzelli          Tosca (Cavaradossi)
1933	Cagliari/T. Civico           Andrea Chénier (Chénier)
1933	Catania/T. Bellini           Adriana Lecouvreur (Maurizio)
1933	Catania/T. Bellini           Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1933	Genova/Politeama Genovese    Gioconda (Enzo)
1933	Novara/T. Coccia             Bohème (Rodolfo)
1933	Netherlands		     Tour
1933	Palermo/T. Massimo           Adriana Lecouvreur (Maurizio)
1933	Piacenza/T. Municipale       Andrea Chénier (Chénier)
1933	Venezia/T. Fenice            Wally (Hagenbach)
1933	Vicenza/T. Verdi             Turandot (Calaf)
1934	Piacenza/T. Municipale       Tosca (Cavaradossi)
1934	Roma/T. Costanzi             Andrea Chénier (Chénier)
1934	Roma/T. Costanzi             Cecilia di L. Refice (Valeriano)

Discography
Columbia
WBX913	Bohème (Puccini): Che gelida manina			CQX16466
WBX914	Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Ecco ridente in cielo	CQX16466
WB3620	Tosca (Puccini): Recondita armonia			CQ268
WB3621	Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle			CQ268
WB4174	Martha (Flotow): M'apparì				CQ713
WB4176	Werther (Massenet): Perché tremar?			CQ713

I would like to thank Roberto Marcocci for the biographical and discographical information.

Reference: Joseph Benton: "Oklahoma tenor: Musical memories of Giuseppe Bentonelli" University of Oklahoma Press, 1973

I would like to thank Juan Dzazópulos for several corrections and addenda.

I wish to thank Ross Halper for the recording.