Renata Scotto

The Italian opera singer Renata Scotto (born February 24, 1934) is a soprano widely admired for both her musical and dramatic gifts. Since retiring from the stage as a singer in 2002, she has turned to directing opera as well as teaching at her own opera academy in Italy and New York.

Related Topics:
Italian - Opera - February 24 - 1934 - Soprano

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Renata Scotto was born in Savona, Italy. She made her operatic debut on Christmas Eve of 1952 at the age of 18 at the Teatro Nuovo in Milan as Violetta in La Traviata.

Related Topics:
Savona - Italy - 1952 - Milan - La Traviata

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In 1953, Scotto auditioned at La Scala for the role of Walter in Catalani's La Wally with Renata Tebaldi and Mario del Monaco. After her audition, one of the judges, the conductor Victor de Sabata, was heard to say, "Forget about the rest." La Wally opened on December 7, 1953 and Scotto was called back for fifteen curtain calls.

Related Topics:
1953 - La Scala - Catalani - La Wally - Renata Tebaldi - Mario del Monaco - December 7

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Scotto's major breakthrough came in 1957. In Edinburgh, La Scala had performed Bellini's La Sonnambula with Maria Callas as Amina. The production had been so successful that La Scala had decided to add another performance. Callas refused to participate. With two days notice, Scotto learned the role of Amina and replaced her. The performance was a great success, and 23-year-old Scotto became an international opera star.

Related Topics:
1957 - Edinburgh - Bellini - La Sonnambula - Maria Callas

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On October 13, 1965, Scotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly. She sang at the Met regularly through 1987 and settled to live in nearby Westchester County.

Related Topics:
October 13 - 1965 - Metropolitan Opera - Madama Butterfly - 1987 - Westchester County

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Scotto had a broad repertoire including some forty-five roles. She is best known for her performances as Violetta in La Traviata, Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore, Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly, Mimi (and occasionally Musetta) in La bohème, Lucia, Lady Macbeth, all three leading soprano roles in Puccini's Il Trittico and Francesca in Rachmaninoff's Francesca da Rimini. Scotto's opening night Norma in 1981 was less than a great success as she was booed by Callas fans. Her subsequent performances at the Met during the 1981-82 season were very successful as they were on the tour.

Related Topics:
La Traviata - L'Elisir d'Amore - Madama Butterfly - La bohème - Puccini - Il Trittico - Rachmaninoff

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In more recent years, she took on the roles of Fedora, the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier in 1992, Kundry in Parsifal in 1995, La Voix Humaine, The Medium and Klytemnestra.

Related Topics:
Der Rosenkavalier - 1992 - Parsifal - 1995

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