Emilio De Marchi was born in Milan, Italy, on July 31, 1851. He studied singing and made his operatic debut in 1876. De Marchi quickly gained recognition for his powerful and expressive voice, becoming one of the most important tenors of his generation. He excelled in roles by composers such as Verdi, Wagner, and especially Puccini. His most memorable performance was the world premiere of 'Tosca' at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome in 1900, where he sang alongside Hariclea Darclée and Eugenio Giraldoni. He was also praised for his performances in other important operas, such as Ponchielli's 'La Gioconda' and Giordano's 'Andrea Chénier'. De Marchi retired from the stage in the early 20th century and passed away in Como, Italy, on March 7, 1917.