Description

MAGDA OLIVERO (MARIA MADDALENA OLIVERO) (SALUZZO, ITALY, 25 MARCH, 1910 – MILAN, ITALY, 8 SEPTEMBER, 2014)

She studied singing, piano, and musicology at the Turin Conservatory, furthering her training in the soloist class of the Italian Radio under Luigi Gerussi and Luigi Ricci. She made her debut in 1933 at the Teatro Vittorio Emanuele in Turin as Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi by Puccini. That same year, she debuted at La Scala in Milan as Anna in Verdi’s Nabucco and appeared there again in the 1938-1939 season.

Her career flourished until 1941 with leading roles in major Italian theaters such as Teatro San Carlo in Naples and Teatro Verdi in Trieste. Notable roles included Adriana Lecouvreur, Liu in Turandot, Suor Angelica, Violetta in La Traviata, and Minnie in La Fanciulla del West.

After marrying in 1941, she retired from the stage, focusing on charity concerts. In 1951, she made a notable return at the request of composer Cilea, performing the title role in Adriana Lecouvreur. This performance marked the beginning of a second, even more illustrious career. She performed at major venues such as the Opera in Rome, La Scala, and the Stoll Theater in London (1952 as Mimi in La Bohème), and in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Florence, Verona, and Lisbon.

Her international career continued with significant roles at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, including the world premiere of Rossellini’s La Guerra in 1956, and in La Celestina by Flavio Testi in 1963. She performed at the Vienna State Opera and the Roman Baths of Caracalla in 1960, and at the Antwerp Opera in 1966. In 1963, she also performed at the Edinburgh Festival as Adriana Lecouvreur.

Her North American debut came in 1967 in Dallas, where she sang roles such as Medea, Fedora, Tosca, and Giorgetta in Il Tabarro. She joined the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1975, where she was seen as Tosca. Her career extended into her later years, with a performance of Adriana Lecouvreur at the Theater of Iesi in 1990.

TRACKLIST

1. Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Io son l’umile ancella BB25028 2.70331 Cetra, Torino 1940-06-26
2. Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Poveri fiori CC2194 2.70330 Cetra, Torino 1939-11-27
3. Bohème (Puccini) Donde lieta uscì BB25272 2.71300FC Cetra, Torino 1950
4. Bohème (Puccini) Sì, mi chiamano Mimì CC2227 2.70453 Cetra, Torino 1940-06-29
5. Gianni Schicchi (Puccini) O mio babbino caro AT0321 55402FC Cetra, Torino 1953-05-06
6. Iris (Mascagni) Un dì, ero piccina AT0321 55403FC Cetra, Torino 1953-05-06
7. La Procession (Franck) PE184 2.71553FC Cetra, Torino 1953-05-06
8. L’amico Fritz (Mascagni) Suzel, buon di… Tutto tace with (w. Tagliavini) Cetra BB 25050 BB 25050
9. Loreley (Catalani) Amor, celeste ebbrezza AT0320 55401FC Cetra, Torino 1953-05-06
10. Louise (Charpentier) Da quel giorno (Depuis le jour) BB25272 2.71303FC Cetra, Torino 1950
11. Manon (Massenet) Addio, o nostro picciol desco PE184 2.71552FC Cetra, Torino 1953-05-06
12. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) In quelle trine morbide BB25271 2.71302FC Cetra, Torino 1950
13. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Sola, perduta, abbandonata BB25277 2.71374 Cetra, Torino 1950-11-14
14. Mefistofele (Boito) L’altra notte CC2194 2.70329 Cetra, Torino 1939
15. Panteismo (Gerussi) AT0322 55405FC Cetra, Torino 1953-05-06
16. Risurrezione (Alfano) Dio pietoso BB25277 2.71375 Cetra, Torino 1950-11-14
17. Suor Angelica (Puccini) Senza mamma BB25271 2.71301FC Cetra, Torino 1950
18. Tosca (Puccini) Vissi d’arte CC2227 2.70447 Cetra, Torino 1940-06-26
19. Traviata (Verdi) Anami Alfredo AT0320 55400FC Cetra, Torino 1953-05-06
20. Triste à la steppe (Gretchaninoff) AT0322 55404FC Cetra, Torino 1953-05-06