Gina Cigna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gina Cigna
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| Born | 6 March 1900 |
| Died | 26 June 2001 (aged 101) |
| Other names | Geneviève Sens Genoveffa Sens Ginetta Sens |
| Occupation | Opera singer (soprano) |
Gina Cigna (born March 6, 1900 – died June 26, 2001) was a famous French-Italian opera singer. She was known as a dramatic soprano. This means she had a very strong and powerful voice, perfect for big, emotional roles in operas.
About Gina Cigna
Gina Cigna was born in Angers, France. Her parents were from Italy. She first studied to become a pianist at the Paris Conservatory. She was very good and even won a gold medal! After that, she started performing piano concerts.
She met a French singer named Maurice Sens and they got married in 1921. He encouraged her to try singing. Gina took some lessons from famous singers like Emma Calvé. But she mostly taught herself how to sing.
Her Opera Debut
Gina Cigna first performed in 1927 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. She used the name Geneviève Sens then. She sang a role called Freia in an opera called Das Rheingold. She also sang small parts in other operas. At first, she didn't have much success.
Two years later, she tried again at La Scala. This time, she used the name Gina Cigna. She sang the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. This performance was a huge success! A few weeks later, she sang as Elisabeth in Tannhäuser.
A Star is Born
Gina Cigna sang regularly at La Scala until 1945. She quickly became one of the top Italian dramatic sopranos. She was famous for her roles in operas like Il Trovatore, Aida, and Tosca.
She also made recordings of famous operas. In 1937, she recorded Norma. In 1938, she recorded Turandot with other great singers. These recordings helped people all over the world hear her amazing voice.
Gina Cigna performed in many famous opera houses around the world. She sang at the Palais Garnier in Paris and the Royal Opera House in London. She also performed in the United States. She sang at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the San Francisco Opera, and the New York Metropolitan Opera. Her first performance at the Metropolitan Opera was in 1937 as Aida.
Later Life
Gina Cigna's singing career ended in 1948. She was in a serious car accident and also had a heart attack. After this, she could no longer sing professionally. But she didn't stop being involved in music! She started teaching other people how to sing.
In 1996, when she was 96 years old, Gina Cigna appeared in a film. It was called Opera Fanatic.
Her Passing
Gina Cigna lived a very long life. She passed away in Milan, Italy, on June 26, 2001. She was 101 years old.
Studio Recordings
Gina Cigna made several important recordings during her career. These are recordings made in a studio, not during a live performance. They let us still hear her beautiful voice today!
