Bonaldo Giaiotti has died at the age of 85.

The renowned Italian bass was one of the most recognized singers of his time, singing at every major theater in the world.

His career began in 1957 when he made his debut at the Teatro Nuovo and began performing all over Italy. Two years later he would make his American debut in Cincinnati, as Basilio in “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” and in 1960, he would make his Metropolitan Opera debut.

The debut marked the start of a 25-year career with the company, as he would go on to perform 30 roles in 300 performances. Among his most famous roles with the house were Raimondo in “Lucia di Lammermoor,” Ramfis in “Aida,” Timur in “Turandot,” Padre Guardiano in “La Forza del Destino,” Phillip II in “Don Carlo,” Count Walter in “Luisa Miller,” Zaccaria in “Nabucco,” Giorgio in “I Puritani,” Alvise in “La Gioconda,” and King Heinrich in “Lohengrin.”

He also performed at the Royal Opera House, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Arena di Verona, Opera de Paris, Vienna State Opera, Teatro Real, Teatro alla Scala, and Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.

As one of the leading basses he was featured in numerous recordings, including “La Juive” with Martina Arroyo and Anna Moffo, “I Vespri Sicilianni” under Riccardo Chailly, “Aida” with Birgit Nilsson and Franco Corelli, “Iris” with Plácido Domingo and “Luisa Miller” with Monserrat Caballé.

Here he is in a historic performance of “Luisa Miller” with Plácido Domingo, Renata Scotto, and Sherill Milnes.

And here is his famous Phillip in “Don Carlo”

And here he is as Zaccaria in “Nabucco”