For many, our knowledge of Tenors do not extend much beyond Luciano Pavarotti,
arguably the most popular male vocalist in contemporary opera.

But Enrico Caruso was the Greatest. His presence Dominated the Met, and enormously enriched the Met between 1903-1921, setting a standard not yet subsequently approached.
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FROM TENORLAND:

Enrico Caruso was born in a seven story apartment complex in a working-class neighborhood in Naples, Italy. He was the 18th child out of 21, and the first to live past infancy, due to a cholera epidemic. He was born to a family of singers. His father, Marcellino Caruso, had a deep bass voice. His mother, Anna Baldini, was once known for her beautiful “bird-like” soprano voice. It was to be his mother’s encouragement to perform throughout his early years that would mold him into the “King of Tenors”.

At the age of 10, his extraordinary voice had already drawn the attention of pianist Ernesto Schirardi and Maestro Raffaele di Lutio, who offered to tutor. However, his interest in drawing temporarily superseded his interest in private study.

At the age of fifteen, Enrico stopped singing for a short period following the death of his ill mother. His voice was beginning to change, and was positive he would never sing again without her encouragement Five months later, his father remarried to Maria Castaldi, a kind and intelligent woman with whom Enrico quickly bonded. Through her love and support, he later began to perform again, making use of his new baritone-tenor instrument.

In 1890 he began performing the ever-popular Neapolitan songs after work in the city’s waterfront cafés - a form of entertainment known as “café chantant.” He soon gained the attention of many people, and was directed to study with on of the city’s most distinguished teachers, Guglielmo Vergine.

At the age of 21, Caruso was ready for his operatic debut, however, this was intercepted by Italian law which required his three years of military service at the Thirteenth Artillery at Rieti. He reluctantly went, but continued to sing by vocalizing in his spare time and entertaining his fellow soldiers. He was soon called to meet with his commanding officer, Major Nagliati, who claimed to find his sounds disturbing.

As they proceeded to talk, the Major - a knowledgeable music lover - introduced Caruso to the Baron Costa, a nobleman of Rieti. The Baron, after hearing Caruso’s voice, declared him to be extraordinarily gifted. Being an accomplished pianist, the Baron took him into his home, and taught Caruso his first rôle, Turridu in “Cavellaria Rusticana” in only five days. The Count was extremely impressed by the soldier’s talents, and suggested to the Major that Caruso was wasting his time in the military. Caruso was soon dismissed after only two months of service, calling in his brother to replace him.

Caruso then returned to Naples and soon made his debut with a relatively unknown opera “L’Amico Francesco.” However, a year later he debuted at Caserta with the rôle of Turridu. Soon after, he premiered “Fedora” in Milan at the Opera Lirico. This would be the performance that launched his career. Caruso exclaimed “After that night, the contracts descended on me like a heavy rainstorm.”

Caruso made his Metropolitan Opera debut on the opening night of the 1903-04 season. Out of the 57 rôles and 832 performances, 37 rôles and 607 performances were there at the Metropolitan Opera.

In August of 1920, Caruso began to experience the early signs of what was to become his long battle with excruciating pain all over his body, and bleeding  from the mouth.Caruso’s suffering finally ended on the morning of Aug 2, 1921.

Gulio Gatti-Cassazza, administrator of the La Scala Opera, wrote this of Caruso, immediately after learning of his death:
 

“We may have now and later tenors possessing some of his qualities, i.e., who may have a beautiful voice, who may be good singers or artists, etc., but I think it will almost be impossible to have the fortune to find again another personality who possesses in himself all the artistic and moral gifts that distinguished our poor and illustrious friend,” Enrico Caruso.

Welcome to Tenorland - Enrico Caruso
http://tenorland.com/caruso.html

See Also
Enrico Caruso - Wikipedia
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Caruso

The Enrico Caruso Museum of America
http://www.enricocarusomuseum.com/

Thirty second samples of 18 Enrico Caruso Recordings are available here:
Despite the poor recording technique available at that time, it can "wring" your heart.
Early 1900's Enrico Caruso Music (1906-1920) Recordings From Victrola
http://www.besmark.com/caruso.html
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CARUSO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF AN OPERA LEGEND

The Italian American Museum is proud to announce that it will host “Caruso: The Life and Work of an Opera Legend” in collaboration with the Enrico Caruso Museum of America and the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute/Queens College, The City University of New York from October 8 through November 15, 2003.

Enrico Caruso (1873 – 1921) is considered by many the world’s greatest tenors.  He was born in Naples, Italy and went onto international fame as an opera singer.  In 1903, Caruso debuted at the Metropolitan Opera House to ecstatic reviews.  The Italian American Museum is celebrating the 100th anniversary of his monumental debut.

Cav. Uff. Aldo Mancusi, the founder and curator of the Enrico Caruso Museum of America has generously loaned fascinating artifacts from Caruso’s life and work. Included in the exhibit are original Caruso sketches of colleagues and friends, a pair of shoes worn by Caruso, and photographs of Caruso at work.

Italian American Museum, which is in transitional residence at the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, is located at 28 West 44th Street, 17th floor, Manhattan.  The Museum will be opened Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and by special appointment.  For further information please call: (212) 642 – 2020,
or visit our website at www.ItalianAmericanMuseum.org.

Press Release: For Immediate Release- October 1, 2003-New York