Giulietta Simionato

Italian opera singer, a mezzo-soprano who made her debut in Florence in 1935. She became the most respected and beloved by audiences and critics alike up to her retirement in 1966.

Born to a Venetian dad and a Sardinian mom, Simionato began to study voice in her teens. She made her way through voice competitions and touring companies until the end of 1935 when she began to sing secondary roles at La Scala. She was not only known for her musical prowess but also for her personal grace and unfailing courtesy. Still in perfect vocal form, she retired in 1966.

She died on 5 May 2010 in Rome, just a few days shy of her 100th birthday.