 He first sang at Covent Garden in 1900 and he would return there in 1903 and 1907-08.On December 3, 1906, Bonci made his American debut with the Manhattan Opera Company in New York City; again the opera was "I Puritani".He stayed two seasons with the company, becoming a popular competitor to Enrico Caruso, who was the rival Metropolitan Opera's major drawcard.