Born Nov. 18, 1882 in Milan, Italy
Died 1963 of emphysema in La Jolla, CA
Amelita Galli-Curci was a petite coloratura soprano who was the toast of the music world during the 1920s.
Considered by many in her time to be the greatest coloratura soprano who ever lived, Galli-Curci was noted for her strength, clarity and range of her voice although, almost incredibly, she had no formal voice training.
She began her singing career in Italy, and made her American debut singing in the Chicago Opera, where she stayed from 1916 to 1924. Later she joined the Metropolitan Opera Company until her farewell appearance Jan. 24, 1930, as Rosina in “The Barber of Seville.”