Beniamino Gigli (20.3.1890-30.11.1957) was an Italian tenor, the most famous and most expensively paid opera singer of his era in the world between the world wars. He was born into a poor artisan family in Recanati. His exceptional singing talents were noticed early on and he joined the boys' choir of San Flaviano Cathedral at the age of 7. After many difficulties, Gigli got to Rome to study singing in 1908, but it wasn't until entering the Academy of Santa Cecilia in 1911 that he had a real chance to reach the top. He studied at the Academy first under Antonio Cotogni and then under Enrico Rosati and graduated with excellent honors in 1914. In July 1914 he won the international singing competition in Parma. Someone from the jury wrote admiringly at the testimony: "Abbiamo finalmente trovato il tenore" (We have finally found the tenor).