Licia Albanese American opera singer (soprano) originally from Italy Date of Birth: 22.07.1909 Country: USA

1. Biography of Licia Albanese
2. Debut and International Recognition
3. Metropolitan Opera and Conflict
4. American Citizenship and Later Career
5. Later Years and Recognition
6. Legacy

Biography of Licia Albanese

Licia Albanese was an American opera singer (soprano) originally from Italy. She was born on July 22, 1909, in Torre a Mare, near the port city of Bari, Italy. Albanese made her first stage appearance in 1934, as a replacement, in Milan, where she performed the role of Cio-Cio-San in the opera "Madama Butterfly". From then on, Albanese became known for her portrayal of the geisha Cio-Cio-San, performing the role approximately 300 times over a span of 40 years. While Albanese received high praise for many of her other roles, including Mimi in "La Bohème", Violetta in "La Traviata", and Liu in "Turandot", the character of Cio-Cio-San remained her favorite.

Debut and International Recognition

There is some discrepancy regarding Albanese's official debut. It was either in 1934 at the Teatro Municipale in Bari, where she sang in "La Bohème", or in 1935 in Milan, with a role in "Madama Butterfly". In late 1935, Albanese made her first appearance at La Scala, transforming into Lauretta in the opera "Gianni Schicchi". Soon, her name became known worldwide, particularly for her roles in "L'amico Fritz", "Carmen", and "Madama Butterfly" in Italy, France, and England.

Metropolitan Opera and Conflict

On February 9, 1940, Albanese made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera. This marked the beginning of her 26-season tenure with the company, during which she performed in 427 shows and portrayed 17 roles in 16 operas. The American audience instantly fell in love with her. However, in 1966, she left the theater due to a conflict with its general manager, Rudolf Bing, without a grand farewell performance.

American Citizenship and Later Career

Albanese became a U.S. citizen in 1945. A year later, conductor Arturo Toscanini invited her to participate in two operas, "La Bohème" and "La Traviata", with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Both operas were broadcasted from Studio 8-H and later released in full on vinyl and CD. Between 1941 and 1961, Albanese was a pillar of the San Francisco Opera, performing 22 roles in 120 shows over 20 seasons. Her admiration for the company's director, Gaetano Merola, played a role in her continued association with the opera company.

Later Years and Recognition

Even after officially retiring from her illustrious 70-year singing career, Albanese occasionally made appearances. In 1985, Stephen Sondheim and Thomas Z. Shepard cast her as opera diva Heidi Schiller in the concert version of Sondheim's musical "Follies" at Avery Fisher Hall, accompanied by the New York Philharmonic. The success of the concert led to a reprisal in Houston, Texas, during the spring season of 1987. Licia Albanese passed away on August 15, 2014, at the age of 106, in her Manhattan home.

Legacy

Albanese was often referred to as "lirico spinto" by Italians, emphasizing her vibrant voice, precise diction, powerful delivery, and emotional impact on the audience. Despite performing the same roles multiple times, she never fell into routine and always managed to captivate with her performances. In 1995, Albanese received the National Medal of Arts in the United States.