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. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Morrò, ma prima GQX10599 WBX1260-1 Columbia, Milano 1932-09-27
2. Mefistofele (Boito) Scena del Giardino, pt 1, pt, pt 3 (w. Civil, Pasero & Mannarini) D14581, D14581, D14582 Columbia, Milano
3. Fanciulla del West (Puccini) Laggiù nel Soledad GQ7186 WB4846 Columbia, Milano 1932-09-26
4. Norma (Bellini) Casta diva GQX10663 WBX1262 Columbia, Milano 1932-09-29
5. Faust (Gounod) All’erta, all’erta (w. Civil & Pasero) D14582 BX 681 Columbia, Milano
6. Otello (Verdi) Gott soll dich, Teurer, segnen, pt 1 (w. Pertile) SKB3303 026499 Telefunken, 1942-06-11
7. Faust (Gounod) Aria dei gioielli, pt 1, pt 2 GQX10014, GQX10014, WBX777, WBX778 Columbia, Milano 1930-02-14
8. Otello (Verdi) Gott soll dich, Teurer, segnen, pt 2 (w. Pertile) SKB3303 026500 Telefunken, 1942-06-11
9. Faust (Gounod) Scena della Chiesa, pt 1 (w. de Angelis & chorus) D14589, D14589, WBX657-1, WBX658-1 Columbia, Milano 1929-10-01
10. Wally (Catalani) Né mai dunque avro pa GQX10663 WBX1261 Columbia, Milano 1932-09-29
11. Forza del destino (Verdi) Madre pietosa vergine D14621 WBX729 Columbia, Milano 1929-11-14