He was the most celebrated Otello (in Verdi's opera) of the 1940s. He performed the role on radio in 1947 with Arturo Toscanini conducting - a performance which was later released on records and is now on CD. Many consider this Toscanini-led performance to be the finest available. He also sang Otello in the history-making, first full-length TV Metropolitan Opera broadcast ever, in 1948. He recreated the role in Salzburg in 1951. In all, he sang the role more than 200 times.