HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GALLI-CURCI

Amelita Galli-Curci (1882-1963)

"Amelita Galli-Curci was born in Milan in 1882. Initially she studied as a pianist, but also had some vocal training though as a singer she was largely self-taught. Her debut in 1906 at Trani, Italy, was as Gilda in Rigoletto and she rapidly became acclaimed as a coloratura singer.

In 1916 she made her American debut at Chicago, again as Gilda, and remained with the company until 1921 when she joined the New York Metropolitan company, appearing with them until 1930. By this time her voice was in decline, and after a throat operation in 1935 she retired completely. She died in 1963.

Her voice was perhaps the most beautiful of the era, clear, limpid and never shrill, though her dramatic ability was limited and in her later singing career her intonation began to suffer. The earlier records in particular have captured her voice extremely well and display an exceptional technique and beauty of tone." Her career was cut short by a goiter, the operation for which she remained awake and the doctor would cut a bit then ask her to sing. Ultimately, though she continued to sing for a while, it was never the same as before. Listen to the clear, beautiful singing of a great star of yesterday!