Virginia Zeani's early career began with lyric coloratura roles such as Lucia, Amina and Violetta. She is heard here in 1955 at the age of 29 singing Gilda's aria from Act One of Rigoletto.
To hear how her superb voice matured, unblemished, listen to recordings made some fifteen years on of 'Tu che le vanita' and 'To this we've come', and, on Google Video, to 'L'altra notte' from Mefistofele in 1981.
This recording is from a live transmission by Italian Radio.
Disclaimer- Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use.
NB The recordings of Mme Virginia Zeani are mostly from radio broadcasts or private or in-house tapes. They were saved by her fans and later, without her permission, sometimes transferred to CDs by companies who pay her no royalties. They are now posted on YouTube so that new opera lovers can freely experience and enjoy her remarkable performances.
