Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Giannina Arangi-Lombardi was an Italian soprano who was born on April 20, 1891, in the town of Trapani, Sicily. She was the daughter of a music teacher and began her musical training at a young age. Her father recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Arangi-Lombardi made her operatic debut in 1916 at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, where she sang the role of Santuzza in Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. Her performance was well-received, and she quickly gained a reputation as a rising star in the opera world. In 1918, Arangi-Lombardi made her debut at La Scala in Milan, where she sang the role of Mimi in Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème. Her performance was a huge success, and she became a regular performer at the prestigious opera house. She also performed at other major opera houses in Italy, including the Teatro San Carlo in Naples and the Teatro Regio in Turin. Arangi-Lombardi's international career began in 1923 when she made her debut at the Royal Opera House in London, where she sang the role of Aida in Giuseppe Verdi's opera of the same name. She also performed at the Paris Opera, the Berlin State Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. One of Arangi-Lombardi's most famous performances was in 1926 when she sang the role of Violetta in La Traviata at La Scala. Her performance was so powerful that the audience demanded an encore of the famous aria "Sempre libera." This was a rare occurrence at the time, and it cemented Arangi-Lombardi's reputation as one of the greatest sopranos of her time. Arangi-Lombardi was known for her beautiful voice, which had a rich, warm tone and a wide range. She was also known for her dramatic performances, which were full of emotion and intensity. She was particularly renowned for her performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini. Throughout her career, Arangi-Lombardi received many awards and honors. In 1927, she was awarded the title of "Prima Donna Assoluta" by the Italian government, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an opera singer in Italy. She was also awarded the Order of the Crown of Italy and the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. Arangi-Lombardi retired from the stage in 1937, at the age of 46. She had been suffering from health problems for several years, and her doctors advised her to stop performing. She spent the rest of her life teaching voice and mentoring young singers. Giannina Arangi-Lombardi died on June 9, 1951, at the age of 60. She left behind a legacy as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century. Her recordings are still widely admired today, and her performances continue to inspire new generations of opera singers.

More....