Gianna Pederzini
When one refers to outstanding exponents of the title role of Bizet’s Carmen, the name of Italian mezzo Gianna Pederzini immediately springs to mind. She was celebrated not only for her singing but also for her acting and for her allure. In his interview for …
Giulietta Simionato
Giulietta Simionato abandoned the operatic stage in 1966 to become the wife of Italy’s most celebrated physician, Dr. Cesare Frugoni who died on January 5, 1978, at the age of ninety-seven. Simionato chose to retire on February 1, 1966, the approximate anniversary of her La …
Icilio Calleja
The number of tenors throughout the first half of the twentieth century considered great exponents of the role of Otello ever since Francesco Tamagno premiered Giuseppe Verdi’s opera in 1887 at La Scala, can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Without a doubt …
Oreste Kirkop
Oreste Kirkop (Chircop), Malta’s singing ambassador of the Fifties who achieved international fame was born at Hamrun on July 26, 1923, the sixth child among the ten siblings of Jean Chircop and Fortunata Panzavecchia. Discovered and trained first by the Maltese tenor Nicolo’ Baldacchino, and later by …
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