Opera Scotland

Amelita Galli-Curci Suggest updates

Born Milan, 18 November 1882.

Died La Jolla, California, 26 November 1963.

Italian soprano.

Amelita Galli-Curci was a famous coloratura soprano, achieving a phenomenal success and popularity in the early decades of the twentieth century. Her voice had quite exceptional vocal agility, as can be heard on her many gramophone recordings. Her most successful roles were Bellini (Amina La sonnambula, Elvira I puritani); Meyerbeer (Dinorah) and Verdi (Gilda,  Violetta).

Galli-Curci studied in Milan, and made her debut at Trani in 1906, as Gilda. In 1916 she moved to the USA, first appearing at Chicago, and was based there for the rest of her life. She appeared regularly at the New York Met through the twenties.

Galli-Curci never sang in opera performances in the UK, but made several extensive recital tours accompanied by her husband, the pianist Homer Samuels.