Baritone Angelo Nardinocchi has died at the age of 81.

Born in Italy, the baritone studied at the Conservatorio di S. Cecilia. Nardinocchi went on to make his debut in Spoleto as Marcello in “La Bohème.”

A year after his debut he went on to perform the role of Rigoletto, a role that went on to become his signature.

Following the advice of Sesto Bruscantini, he began singing character roles such as Leporello in “Don Giovanni,” the Sacristan in “Tosca,” Alcindoro and Benoit in “La Bohème,” Fra Melitone in “La Forza del Destino.”

He was a regular at the Arena di Verona and such companies as the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Teatro San Carlo, Teatro Regio di Parma, Teatro Regio di Torino, Teatro Verdi Trieste, and Teatro La Fenice. He also performed regularly in Japan, China, South Korea, Brazil, and other countries.