ABSTRACT
Italian coloratura soprano, born in Milan. A piano student at first, she graduated with a first prize in that instrument from the Milan Conservatory in 1903. She taught herself to sing, in part by listening to herself on cylinder records. On 26 Dec 1906 she made her opera debut as Gilda in Trani, then sang throughout Italy, South America, and Europe. When World War I started she moved to the U.S., making a sensational debut with the Chicago Opera on 18 Nov 1916 as Gilda, and then at the Metropolitan on 14 Nov 1921 as Violetta; she remained with the Metropolitan until 1930, singing the Italian/French repertoire. Galli-Curci died in La Jolla, California, where she had retired.
