Leone Corelli

Leone Corelli sang the role of Arminio in the world premiere of Verdi's I Masnadieri at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, 22 July 1847 (profile picture).

Corelli went to England after a promising early career that included lead roles in Donizetti's Bently (Livorno 1839) and L'elisir d'amore (Bologna 1842). He apparently disappointed English audiences, and his voice was deemed sweet but too small to fill a large theater. He spent the remainder of his career singing minor roles. (The Cambridge Verdi Encyclopedia, page 104)