Mirella Freni

Mirella Freni (27 February 1935 – 9 February 2020) was an Italian soprano, one of the leading lyric sopranos of her era. She had a beautiful and well-schooled voice and a charming stage presence. 

Life and career

Born Mirella Fregni, in Modena, Italy, she studied at the Bologna Music Conservatory with Ettore Campogalliani. She made her debut in her hometown in 1955, as Micaela in Carmen. That same year, she married pianist Leone Magiera, with whom she had a daughter, whom she called Micaela.

After winning the Viotto vocal competition in 1957, she sang with the Netherlands Opera, then was invited at the Glyndebourne Festival, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 1961. She made her debut at La Scala in Milan in 1962. Her New York Metropolitan Opera debut came in 1965, as Mimi in La bohème, a role she will remain closely associated with throughout her career. She then sang at most of the great operatic centers ot the world, such as Paris, Chicago, Salzburg, etc.

She began her career by singing soubrette roles, such as Susanna, Zerlina, Adina, Nanetta, etc., and then moved to more lyric roles such as Mimi, Marguerite, Juliet, etc., and eventually more dramatic roles such as Violetta, Amelia, Desdemona, Cio-Cio-San, Tosca, Medea, Wally, Maddalena, Giulia etc., with equal success. 

After her divorce from Magiera, she married Bulgarian bass Nicolai Ghiaurov in 1981.

Freni died on 9 February 2020 in Modena after suffering multiple strokes and a degenerative disease, aged 84.

Notes

Sources
 Le Guide de l'Opéra, Roland Mancini & Jean-Jacques Rouverox, Fayard, 1986.
 The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia, edited by David Hamilton, Simon & Schuster, 1987.

Sources
 Le Guide de l'Opéra, Roland Mancini & Jean-Jacques Rouverox, Fayard, 1986.
 The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia, edited by David Hamilton, Simon & Schuster, 1987.

Category:1935 births
Category:2020 deaths
Category:Deaths from neurodegenerative disease
Category:Deaths from stroke
Category:Italian singers
Category:Musicians from Emilia-Romagna
Category:Italian opera singers
Category:People from Modena
Category:Italian sopranos