Luisa Tetrazzini

Luisa Tetrazzini was an Italian coloratura soprano who was born in Florence, Kingdom of Italy, in 1871. She achieved professional recognition in 1890 with her debut as Inez in Giacomo Meyerbeer’s L'Africaine and is famous for her extraordinary vocal technique, range, and powerful upper register. After successful tours in South America and Russia, Tetrazzini achieved international prominence with a 1907 debut at Covent Garden in London performing as Violetta in Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata. She appeared at the Manhattan Opera Company (1908) and the Metropolitan Opera (1911–1912) and was celebrated for roles such as Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor and Gilda in Rigoletto. Her discography includes recordings for Victor Talking Machine Company and His Master's Voice, featuring “Io son Titania” from Mignon and “Saper vorreste” from Un ballo in maschera. She authored the books My Life of Song (1921) and How to Sing (1923). Following her retirement in 1934, Tetrazzini taught voice in Milan and Rome. She died in 1940.