Ernesto Nicolini by Bergamasco

Ernesto Nicolini, born Ernest Nicolas (1834-1898); French tenor.
He studied at the Conservatoire National de Paris and made his debut in 1857 at the Opéra-Comique (under the name Ernest Nicolas) in Halevy's "Les mousquetaires de la reine". After further study in Italy he appeared in 1859 in Florence under the name of Ernesto Nicolini where he debuted as Alfredo in Verdi's "La Traviata". The following years he had great successes at various important Italian theaters including La Scala Milan.On his return to France he sang at the Théâtre-Italien from 1862 until 1869. He made his debut at Covent Garden in London in 1866 as Edgardo in "Lucia di Lammermoor". Five years later he returned to London to sing the title roles in "Faust" and "Robert le diable" at the Drury Lane Theatre. From 1872 until 1884 he appeared every season at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and very often the world famous soprano Adelina Patti was his partner. In 1882 he created the role of Coelius at the premiere of Charles Lenepveu's "Velléda". Adelina Patti created the role of Velléda in this opera that was dedicated to her by the composer ("A Madame Adelina Patti-Hommage de profonde admiration et d'affectueuse reconnaissance"). During the season 1874/75 he appeared in St Petersburg and Moscow, opposite Adelina Patti, whom he would partner in almost all her appearances thereafter, accompanying her on concert tours to the major western European capitals (Vienna, Milan, Venice, Brussels, Berlin), as well as on tours through the United States and South America.
While together in Paris in 1886, singing in Faust at the Grand Opéra, the two created something of a scandal by getting married; Patti had divorced her first husband, the Marquis de Caux, shortly before her wedding with Nicolini. He now also became the impresario of his wife. Nicolini appeared on stage for the last time at Drury Lane in 1897 as Almaviva in "Il barbiere di Siviglia". He died the following year in Pau (France) at the age of 64.