Elvira Juana Rodríguez Roglán, known professionally as Elvira de Hidalgo, was a prominent Spanish coloratura soprano, who later became a teacher and vocal coach. Her most famous pupil was Maria Callas.
Antonietta Meneghel, better known by her stage name Toti Dal Monte, was a celebrated Italian operatic lyric soprano. She may be best remembered today for her performance as Cio-cio-san in Puccini's Madama Butterfly, having recorded this role complete in 1939 with Beniamino Gigli as Pinkerton.
Cesira Ferrani was an Italian operatic soprano who is best known for debuting two of the most iconic roles in opera history, Mimì in the original 1896 production of Giacomo Puccini's La bohème and the title role in Puccini's Manon Lescaut in its 1893 world premiere. Ferrani sang a wide repertoire that encompassed not only verismo opera but the works of composers like Verdi, Gounod, Wagner, and Debussy.
Mariella Devia is an Italian operatic soprano. After beginning her career as a lyric coloratura soprano, in the finale part of it she also enjoyed considerable success with some of the most dramatic roles in the bel canto repertoire.
Gianna D'Angelo was an American coloratura soprano, primarily active in the 1950s and 1960s.
Margherita Rinaldi was an Italian lyric soprano, primarily active in the 1960s and 1970s, after she made her debut as Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor in 1958, prompting her career at La Scala in Milan. She also appeared internationally, performing a wide repertoire including, besides Italian belcanto roles, Baroque and French opera. She recorded the roles of Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto and Ilia in Mozart's Idomeneo. From 1981, she worked as a voice teacher.
Riccardo Stracciari was a leading Italian baritone. His repertoire consisted mainly of Italian operatic works, with Rossini's Figaro and Verdi's Rigoletto becoming his signature roles during a long and distinguished career which stretched from 1899 to 1944.
Mercedes Capsir was a Catalan opera singer, a high coloratura soprano, particularly associated with light Italian roles, such as Lucia and Gilda.
María Alejandra Barrientos Llopis was a Spanish opera singer, a light coloratura soprano.
Nicola Monti was an Italian opera singer, one of the leading tenori di grazia of the 1950s.
Eugenia Ratti was an Italian soprano, particularly associated with the Italian repertory. A lyric coloratura soprano of considerable charm, she excelled in soubrette roles in works by Cimarosa and Mozart such as Susanna, Zerlina, Despina, and in light Donizetti such as Adina, Norina, as well as Verdi's Oscar and Nannetta.
Ines Maria Ferraris was an Italian operatic soprano and pianist who sang for more than two decades at La Scala in addition to appearances on the international stage. Although popular in Italy, she had a particularly devoted fanbase throughout South America. A light lyric soprano with a pure and agile voice, Ferraris sang a wide repertoire that encompassed the verismo operas of Puccini, the Italian grand opera of Verdi, and the German operas of Richard Strauss. She is particularly remembered for portraying the role of Lisette in the world première of Puccini's La rondine in 1917.
Ada Sari was a Polish opera singer, actress, and educator. One of the leading dramatic coloratura sopranos of her generation, she possessed a large, resonant voice with a clear timbre. Her career took her to the stages of the best opera houses and concert halls in Europe during the first half of the 20th century. Her signature roles included Gilda in Rigoletto, Mimi in La bohème, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Violetta in La traviata, and the title roles in Lakmé and Lucia di Lammermoor. She also gave lauded concert tours in North and South America.
Antonietta Marini-Rainieri was an Italian operatic soprano active during the first half of the 19th century. She was married to lauded operatic bass Ignazio Marini and often appeared on stage with him. In 1835 she portrayed Giulietta opposite Amalia Schütz Oldosi as Romeo in the Teatro Regio di Parma's first staging of Vincenzo Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi. At La Scala she portrayed roles in the world premieres of Giuseppe Verdi's first two operas: Leonora in Oberto (1839) and the Marchesa del Poggio in Un giorno di regno (1840). She also appeared at that house as the Princess of Navarra in the premiere of Gaetano Donizetti's Gianni di Parigi (1839). In 1843, she sang the title role in the premiere of Giovanni Pacini's Maria, regina d'Inghilterra at the Teatro Carolino in Palermo. She reprised that role in December 1843 at La Scala, and at the Teatro Carlo Felice in February 1844.
Dolores Mae Wilson was an American coloratura soprano who had an active international opera career from the late 1940s through the early 1960s. Beginning her career with major theatres in Europe, she performed in six seasons at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City during the 1950s. She is perhaps best known for originating the title role in the world premiere of Douglas Moore's The Ballad of Baby Doe at the Central City Opera in 1956. After abandoning her opera career, she embarked on a second career as a musical theatre actress; making several appearances on Broadway in the following decades.
Margherita Bevignani was an Italian operatic soprano, best known for being the first singer to record the entire role of Violetta in Giuseppe Verdi's opera La traviata in 1915.
Malvina Pereira was a Brazilian soprano. She is thought to be the first opera singer from Brazil to have had an international career.
Nunù Sanchioni was an Italian operatic singer. She was considered one of the finest coloratura sopranos of her generation and was often compared with Mercedes Capsir and Toti Dal Monte. Her best roles included Rosina in Gioachino Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia and Gilda in Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto.
Sabina Puértolas is a Spanish operatic soprano, who has performed leading roles internationally, including Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto at the Royal Opera House and Rosina in Rossini's The Barber of Seville at the Seattle Opera.
Magda Piccarolo was an Italian soprano and voice teacher. Active as an opera singer from 1933 through 1959, she was particularly celebrated for her portrayal of Gilda in Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto. She later was active as a teacher of singing both privately and at the Milan Conservatory.
