Opera Singer. A bass, his most noted roles were those of a "basso buffo", opera's comic relief. Raised in New York, he earned a degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied voice with Friedrich Schorr and John Brownlee. After further training in Rome, on a Fulbright scholarship, he made his professional debut in 1955 at the Empire State Festival in what was to be one of his best-known roles, the quack Dr. Dulcamara of Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore". Flagello won the Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air in 1957, and made his Metropolitan debut in November of that year in the comprimario part of the jailer in "Tosca"; shortly thereafter, he had his first major role as Leporello in Mozart's "Don Giovanni". Though most recognized as a comedic character, such as Gianni Schicchi or Falstaff, the Metropolitan was also to see him as Sparafucile in "Rigoletto", Sarastro in "Die Zauberflote", and King Philip in "Don Carlo". He created the role of Enobarbus in Samuel Barber's "Antony and Cleopatra" on opening night at the new Metropolitan Opera House in 1966. In addition to his Metropolitan performances, Flagello also sang at La Scala Milano, and in Vienna, Houston, and San Francisco. He took his final bow at the Metropolitan, after 528 performances, as Dr. Bartolo in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" in December, 1984. On the silver-screen, he had a minor role in the 1974 "The Godfather Part II" Flagello lived his final years in Florida. He leaves behind a large legacy of recordings.
Opera Singer. A bass, his most noted roles were those of a "basso buffo", opera's comic relief. Raised in New York, he earned a degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied voice with Friedrich Schorr and John Brownlee. After further training in Rome, on a Fulbright scholarship, he made his professional debut in 1955 at the Empire State Festival in what was to be one of his best-known roles, the quack Dr. Dulcamara of Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore". Flagello won the Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air in 1957, and made his Metropolitan debut in November of that year in the comprimario part of the jailer in "Tosca"; shortly thereafter, he had his first major role as Leporello in Mozart's "Don Giovanni". Though most recognized as a comedic character, such as Gianni Schicchi or Falstaff, the Metropolitan was also to see him as Sparafucile in "Rigoletto", Sarastro in "Die Zauberflote", and King Philip in "Don Carlo". He created the role of Enobarbus in Samuel Barber's "Antony and Cleopatra" on opening night at the new Metropolitan Opera House in 1966. In addition to his Metropolitan performances, Flagello also sang at La Scala Milano, and in Vienna, Houston, and San Francisco. He took his final bow at the Metropolitan, after 528 performances, as Dr. Bartolo in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" in December, 1984. On the silver-screen, he had a minor role in the 1974 "The Godfather Part II" Flagello lived his final years in Florida. He leaves behind a large legacy of recordings.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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