Description

MARIA PEDRINI (BRISIGHELLA, 3 FEBRUARY, 1910 – ROME, 8 DECEMBER, 1981)

She received her musical education at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, studying under Edvige Ghibaudo. She made her operatic debut in November 1931 at the Teatro Adriano in Rome, portraying Elena in Boito’s Mefistofele. In 1932, her career gained momentum after she won a prestigious singing competition in Vienna.

By 1934, she achieved significant acclaim at the Rome Opera, where she portrayed the Countess in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Her reputation grew further when, in 1936, she appeared with the Italian Opera in Holland in demanding roles such as Amelia in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, Leonora in Il trovatore, and Aida. On February 8, 1936, she performed at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa in the world premiere of Gian Francesco Malipiero’s opera Giulio Cesare.

She debuted at La Scala in Milan in 1939, singing in Henri Rabaud’s Marouf. After World War II, she sang Abigaille in Verdi’s Nabucco at La Scala in its first postwar staging. From that point, she became a regular at La Scala, the Rome Opera, and other leading Italian opera houses. Between 1947 and 1957, she frequently performed at the open-air festival in the Baths of Caracalla in Rome.

In 1953, she premiered Pietro Canonica’s opera Medea at the Rome Opera. Her international engagements included performances at the Teatro Liceo in Barcelona, as well as in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Switzerland, and France.

Her voice, known for its dark timbre and dramatic power, excelled in Verdi roles such as Abigaille, Leonora, and Amelia, as well as in other demanding dramatic soprano parts. She was celebrated for her portrayals of Norma in Bellini’s Norma, Gioconda in Ponchielli’s La Gioconda, Tosca in Puccini’s Tosca, Mathilde in Rossini’s William Tell, and the title role in Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia. Her artistry established her as one of the most compelling dramatic sopranos of her time.

TRACKLIST

1. Aida (Verdi) O cieli azzurri Cetra CC2214 70365
2. Andrea Chenier (Giordano) La mamma morta Cetra
3. Forza del Destino (Verdi) Pace mio Dio Cetra CC2151 70253
4. Guglielmo Tell (Rossini) Selva opaca Cetra CC2202 70364
5. Norma (Bellini) Casta Diva Cetra CC2214 70396
6. Otello (Verdi) Ave Maria Cetra CC2201 70363
7. Otello (Verdi) Canzone del salice  Cetra CC2201 70362
8. Trovatore (Verdi) D’amor su l’ali rosee Cetra CC2202 70366
9. Trovatore (Verdi) Tacea la notte placida Cetra CC2151 70254