Claudia Muzio

Claudia Muzio ( born February 7, 1889 in Pavia, † May 24, 1936 in Rome) was an Italian opera singer (soprano ).

She came from a theatrical family: her father was a director at Covent Garden London, and at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, her mother was a member of the choir of the Metropolitan Opera.

Muzio debuted in 1911 as " Manon Lescaut " by Giacomo Puccini in Arezzo. She sang at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, at the Covent Garden Opera London, in Havana. 1916 - 1921 she was engaged at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and from 1922 to 1932 in Chicago. In addition, she appeared at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.

In the premiere of the opera "Il tabarro " by Giacomo Puccini in 1918, she sang the female lead. They also looked at the 1934 premiere of the opera " Cecilia " by Licinio Refice with. They met several times in opera performances as a partner of Enrico Caruso.

Because of their intense Art Muzio was described by contemporaries as " The Duse of the Opera". Especially as " Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini and " La Traviata " by Giuseppe Verdi they left a lasting impression. Among her many recordings of the aria " Addio del passato " from " La Traviata" is their most famous.

In the years 1935/36, she undertook a tour of South America, but fell ill with heart disease, from which she died soon afterwards. Muzio is considered one of the most important singers of the era of verismo.