Although he had a talent for portraying noble, suffering characters, Verdi also recognized his capacity for humorous roles and wrote the character of Fra Melitone specifically for him.
He sang throughout Italy and from 1852–1863 in St.
Petersburg as well.
He made his London debut in Covent Garden in 1859.
De Bassini was married to the soprano Rita Gabussi.
Their son, Alberto De Bassini, was also an opera singer, first as a tenor, and later as a baritone.