Amelita Gallicurci

Italian outstanding soprano singer, internationally known for her concerts and gramophone records. Galli-Curci established her operatic career in America by selling many recorded operas to the American music audience. She was raised in Milan and from a young age was fascinated by the La Scala Opera house. Trained first as a pianist, she then became a self-taught singer with a sweet youthful timbre. She was refused entrance to the La Scala stage so she traveled to opera houses in Italy, Spain, Russia, Central and South America to gain her experience. In 1906, she made her triumphal American debut at the Chicago Opera House in "Rigoletto." Her manager, Charles Wagner, stimulated the interest of New York opera fans by having his artist record for Victor Records and perform for enthusiastic crowds throughout the West and Midwest. She played at the New York Met in 1921 to favorable reviews. Her limpid liquid soprano voice and sympathetic personality helped establish her reputation for eight seasons at the Met. During this time, Victor continued to market her fast selling records to the public. She was considered a great recording artist even though critics began to detect her flat tones worsening year to year. Her first husband, Luigi Curci, was the Marchese di Simeri. He did not care for his wife's success in America and preferred to move back to Italy. The La Scala opera house contacted Galli-Curci during her achievements at the Met and tried to persuade her to return to Milan. She turned the city down flat, desiring to obtain citizenship papers in the U.S. Her second husband was her accompanist Homer Samuels so she obtained her American citizenship through marriage. The flatness of her vocal tone was a symptom of a goiter condition. She underwent a throat operation, hoping to return to the stage in 1926. Sadly, her comeback as Mimi in "La Boheme" in Chicago was unsuccessful. She retired in 1930 in the Catskills of New York and her singing voice never returned. She died from emphysema on November 26, 1963 in La Jolla, CA, age 81. Link to Wikipedia biography