Renata Tebaldi

Italian operatic singer, called one of the greatest Italian lyrico spinto sopranos since World War II, who made her debut in "Rovigo" in 1944. Though noted for her superb voice, her acting ability was lacking. Tebaldi first sang "La Scala" in the 1946-1947 season and appeared regularly from 1949-1954. Tebaldi made her London debut in the ‘50s, her two-octave voice making her one of the leading Italian sopranos of her day, and made her New York debut in 1955 as Desdemona in "Othello". She appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in the U.S. throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s, then retired in 1976.

She returned to New York in December 1995 to promote her biography, "Tebaldi, the Voice of an Angel."

The soprano, once described by Arturo Toscanini as having the “voice of an angel,” died on December 19, 2004 at age 82 in the Republic of San Marino. She had been in failing health for the past several months.