The Art of Caruso

From boyhood, at the insistence of his father, Enrico Caruso was destined for life as a mechanic. If not for the intervention of his mother, whose determination led to him receive a broad education, his life may never have moved beyond his hometown. Early on, Caruso also considered a career as a visual artist, and while he eventually became one of opera’s greatest tenors, he continued to draw throughout his life.

As he traveled and performed throughout the world, he often sketched caricatures of himself and colleagues. They reveal a keen sense of awareness and observation, as well as Caruso’s sense of humor. The caricatures displayed here come from a collection first published in 1908 by the Italian-language newspaper La Follia di New York.

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Puccini at the Met

La Bohème

Tosca

Manon Lescaut

Madama Butterfly

Le Villi

La Fanciulla del West

Il Trittico

Turandot

La Rondine

The Art of Caruso