Zinka Milanov

Zinka Milanov n?e Zinka Kunc (May 17, 1906 - May 30, 1989) was a Croatian-born operatic soprano.

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Born in Zagreb, she studied with the Wagnerian soprano Milka Trnina. On October 29, 1927, she made her operatic debut as Leonora in Giuseppe Verdi's Il Trovatore in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Her debut in her native Croatia, at the National Theater in Zagreb, took place five weeks later as Marguerite in Charles Gounod's "Faust."

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After an early and sensational debut in Dresden (November 5, 1928, also as Leonora), she performed in Zagreb and Ljubljana almost exclusively for the next six years. Later she became a member of the New German Theater in Prague, where all performances were sung in German. She was discovered by Bruno Walter, who recommended her to the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini for a performance of Verdi's Requiem in Salzburg. In 1937, she made her debut in the Metropolitan Opera, once again as Leonora. At that time she adopted the name Milanov, which was the stage name of her second husband, an actor, because according to Milanov herself, "Kunc" wasn't "glamourous" enough for the Metropolitan Opera. In 1947, Milanov left the Met when she married a third time, to Yugoslav general and diplomat Ljubomir Ilic, and returned to live in her native country for several years.

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She was at the peak of her artistic and vocal powers when she made her debut at the Teatro alla Scala as Tosca in 1950. When Rudolf Bing took over the Metropolitan Opera that very same year, Milanov returned and was hailed as a primadonna assoluta.

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Milanov had a beautiful, clear voice, especially in the upper register, and sang with splendid legato. Vocally, she didn't come into her own until she was in her forties. In her younger years, her voice tended to become shrill. She excelled in the Italian parts for dramatic soprano and is best remembered for her Verdi interpretations (Aida, Amelia, Leonora).

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She gave her final performance in 1966. After her farewell, Milanov remained active as a teacher.

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She died in New York.

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