Bentonelli (real name, Benton), Joseph (Horace)

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Bentonelli (real name, Benton), Joseph (Horace)

Bentonelli (real name, Benton), Joseph (Horace), American tenor; b. Sayre, Okla., Sept. 10, 1898; d. Oklahoma City, April 4, 1975. Following the frequent practice among American singers, he adopted an Italian-sounding name when he embarked on a singing career. He was a student of Jean de Reszke in Paris. In 1925 he made his public debut with the de Reszke Ensemble in Nice. In 1934 he appeared at the Chicago Opera. On Jan. 10, 1936, he made his Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. as Massenet’s Des Grieux, singing there until 1937. His repertoire included many leading Italian roles.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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