Description

GINA CIGNA (PARIS, FRANCE, 6 MARCH, 1900 – MILAN, ITALY, 26  JUNE, 2001)

 

 

 

 

Her father was a general in the French army. She studied piano and music theory at the Conservatoire de Paris. In 1923, she married the tenor Maurice Sens. Initially, she trained her voice with Emma Calvé and Lucette Korsoff. In 1927, she made her debut under the name Ginette Sens at La Scala in Milan, performing the role of Freia in Wagner’s Das Rheingold (L’oro del Reno).

Following further vocal training with Rosina Storchio and Giannina Russ, she re-debuted as Gina Cigna in 1928 at the Teatro in Carpi, singing the title role in Alfredo Catalani’s Loreley.

After retiring from the stage, Cigna began a successful teaching career. From 1948, she worked as a vocal pedagogue in Milan, then from 1953 to 1957 in Toronto, Canada. Later, she returned to Milan and also taught at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena from 1957 to 1965.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1927 Milano La Scala L’oro del Reno (Freia)

1928 Carpi Teatro Lorely (Loreley)

1932 Parma Teatro Regio La forza del destino (Leonora)

1933 Roma Teatro Reale dell’Opera La Gioconda (Gioconda)

1935 Catania Teatro Massimo Norma (Norma)

1936 Torino Teatro Regio Turandot (Turandot)

1936 Parma Teatro Regio Andrea Chénier (Maddalena)

1936 Roma Teatro Reale dell’Opera Un ballo in maschera (Amelia)

1937 Roma Teatro Reale dell’Opera Alceste (Alceste)

1938 Novara Teatro Coccia Turandot (Turandot)

1939 Venezia Teatro alla Fenice Un ballo in maschera (Amelia)

1941 Torino Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Aida (Aida)

1941 Torino Teatro Vittorio Emanuele La Gioconda (Gioconda)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Io son l’umile ancella GQ7176 WB4847-1 Columbia, Milano 1932-09-27
2. Forza del destino (Verdi) Me pellegrina ed orfana D14621 WBX730 Columbia, Milano 1929-11-14
3. Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Io son sua per l’amore (w. Elmo) CB20150 2-70331 Cetra, 1939-12-10
4. Francesca da Rimini (Zandonai) Benvenuto Signore (w. Ziliani) SK3301 026533 Telefunken, 1942-06-16
5. Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Io son sua per l’amore (w. Elmo) R30013 2-70548 Cetra, 1941-03-30
6. Francesca da Rimini (Zandonai) E la Reina vede il (w. Ziliani) SK3302 026535 Telefunken, 1942-06-16
7. Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Poveri fiori GQ7176 WB4861-1 Columbia, Milano 1932-09-29
8. Francesca da Rimini (Zandonai) Inghirlandata di violette (w. Ziliani) SK3301 026534 Telefunken, 1942-06-16
9. Aida (Verdi) Fu la sorte … Si tu l’ami (w. Elmo) 2-70545, 2-70546 Cetra, 1941-03-30
10. Francesca da Rimini (Zandonai) Paolo se perdonat o(w. Ziliani) SK3302 026536 Telefunken, 1942-06-16
11. Andrea Chénier (Giordano) La mamma morta GQX10593 WBX1257 Columbia, Milano 1932-09-26
12. Gioconda (Ponchielli) L’amo come il fulgor del creato! (w. Elmo) R30013 2-70547 Cetra, 1941-03-30
13. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Ma dall’arido stelo GQX10599 WBX1259-1 Columbia, Milano 1932-09-27
14. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Suicidio GQX10593 WBX1258-1 Columbia, Milano 1932-09-26