Birth

:

December 19, 1902 in Philadelphia, PA

Death

:

June 29, 1986 in Zürich, Switzerland

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Dusolina Giannini was a renowned classical music artist who made a significant contribution to the world of opera. She was born on November 23, 1902, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a family of musicians. Her father, Ferruccio Giannini, was a composer and music teacher, while her mother, Marie Sanina, was a singer. Dusolina was the youngest of six children, and her siblings also pursued careers in music. Dusolina showed an early interest in music and began taking piano lessons at the age of four. She later studied voice with her mother and made her debut at the age of 16 in a concert at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. She continued her studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she studied with renowned voice teacher, Emilio de Gogorza. In 1924, Dusolina made her operatic debut as Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème with the Philadelphia Civic Opera Company. She quickly gained recognition for her powerful voice and dramatic stage presence. In 1926, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City as Cio-Cio-San in Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Her performance was well-received, and she became a regular performer at the Met for the next 16 years. Dusolina's repertoire included a wide range of roles, from the dramatic heroines of Verdi and Puccini to the comic roles of Mozart and Rossini. She was particularly known for her performances in the title roles of Tosca, Aida, and Carmen. Her performances were marked by her powerful voice, dramatic intensity, and emotional depth. In addition to her performances at the Met, Dusolina also performed with other major opera companies, including the San Francisco Opera, the Chicago Opera, and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. She also performed in Europe, making her debut at La Scala in Milan in 1930. Dusolina's career was not without its challenges. In 1937, she was diagnosed with a thyroid condition that required surgery. She took a year off from performing to recover and returned to the stage in 1938. She also faced discrimination as a woman of Italian descent during World War II, which led to her being blacklisted by some opera companies. Despite these challenges, Dusolina continued to perform and received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 1941, she was awarded the Philadelphia Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the city. In 1950, she was awarded the Order of Merit by the Italian government for her contributions to Italian culture. She was also inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame in 1994. Dusolina retired from the stage in 1950 and became a voice teacher. She taught at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, among other institutions. She also continued to perform occasionally, including a performance at the White House for President John F. Kennedy in 1962. Dusolina Giannini passed away on June 30, 1986, at the age of 83. She left behind a legacy as one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. Her powerful voice, dramatic intensity, and emotional depth continue to inspire and captivate audiences today.

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