Ezio Pinza

Birth Name:

Fortunato Pinza

Birth Place:

Rome, Italy

Profession

Soundtrack, Actor

Won a Tony Award for Best Actor in 1950 for his role in "South Pacific․"
Left his imprints at Grauman's Chinese Theater in 1953
Served in the military for four years during World War I
Started his opera career in his native Italy in 1914
His romantic lead role in the Broadway musical comedy "South Pacific" helped him transition into popular music
Sang opposite such celebrated singers as Amelita Galli-Curci, Rosa Ponselle, Elisabeth Rethberg, Giovanni Martinelli, Beniamino Gigli, Lawrence Tibbett, Giusepe De Luca and Salvatore Baccaloni
A Metropolitan Opera basso, he gained acclaim in opera houses on either side of the Atlantic
All the water fountains at the new Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center are dedicated to him
Never learned to sight-read musical scores, but would listen to his part played on a piano, then sing it accurately
Appeared on the cover of "Life" magazine in September 1950

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