He made his 1969 Met debut as Enrico the afternoon of the notorious Moffo Lucia broadcast and his last NYC appearance (which I heard) was 25 years later as Lusignano in OONY’s Caterina Cornaro with Martile Rowland. The Roman proconsul Severo in Poliutowas one of his great roles, created after the composer’s death by Filippo Colini, who also launched Giovanna d’Arco, La battaglia di Legnano, and Stiffelio  for Verdi. Bruson’s Severo can be heard in several live recordings; my favorite is from Naples,1977 opposite Adriana Maliponte–offering a very different take on Paolina from that of Callas— and the sturdy if sometimes pitch-challenged Giorgio Lamberti under “that bastard” (as per Crespin) Molinari-Pradelli. Bruson understands the music’s architecture and the fact that proto-Verdi is neither Verdi nor verismo; and as ever gives us the pleasure of the Italian text.