Gianna D'Angelo facts for kids
Gianna D'Angelo (born November 18, 1929 – died December 27, 2013) was a talented American opera singer. She was known as a coloratura soprano, which means she had a very high and flexible singing voice. She was most active in the 1950s and 1960s.
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Early Life and Training
Gianna D'Angelo was born as Jane Angelovich in Hartford, Connecticut. She began her music studies at The Juilliard School in New York City. There, she learned from a famous singer named Giuseppe De Luca.
In the early 1950s, she moved to Venice, Italy. In Italy, she continued her training with another well-known singer, Toti Dal Monte. It was Dal Monte who suggested she change her name to sound more Italian, which is how she became Gianna D'Angelo.
Becoming an Opera Star
Gianna D'Angelo made her first big performance in 1954. She sang the role of Gilda in the opera Rigoletto at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Italy. This role became one of her most famous throughout her career.
After her debut, she quickly became popular in Italy. She was invited to sing at many major opera houses, including those in Naples, Florence, and Milan. She also performed in other European cities. She sang Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Paris Opéra and the Glyndebourne Festival. She also performed as Norina in Don Pasquale at the Edinburgh Festival.
Singing in America
Gianna D'Angelo first performed in the United States in March 1959. She sang the main role in Lucia di Lammermoor at the Cosmopolitan Opera in San Francisco.
On April 5, 1961, she made her debut at the famous Metropolitan Opera in New York. She sang Gilda in Rigoletto again, alongside Robert Merrill. She stayed at the Metropolitan Opera for eight seasons. During this time, she performed many different roles. Some of her roles included Lucia, Amina, Rosina, Norina, Zerbinetta, and the Queen of the Night. She also sang in other American cities like Philadelphia and Houston.
Recordings
Gianna D'Angelo did not make many studio recordings. However, one of her most famous recordings was as Musetta in the opera La bohème. She sang with other great artists like Renata Tebaldi and Carlo Bergonzi. This recording was made in Rome in 1959.
She also recorded Il barbiere di Siviglia and Rigoletto with baritone Renato Capecchi. Another recording featured her as the doll Olympia in Les contes d'Hoffmann. A live performance of I puritani from 1966 was also released on DVD.
Later Life
After she stopped singing professionally, Gianna D'Angelo became a voice teacher. She taught at the Jacobs School of Music from 1970 until 1997. She helped many young singers develop their voices.
Gianna D'Angelo passed away on December 27, 2013, at the age of 84. She died in Mint Hill, North Carolina.
Sources
- The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia, edited by David Hamilton (Simon and Schuster, New York 1987). ISBN: 0-671-61732-X
- Hardy Classic Video Biography.
