Nisha Rathode (Editor)

Gina Cigna

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Name
  
Gina Cigna

Role
  
Soprano

Education
  
Conservatoire de Paris


Gina Cigna httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu


Died
  
June 20, 2001, Milan, Italy

Spouse
  
Maurice Sens (m. 1923–2001)

Albums
  
Gina Cigna, Verdissimo II: Great Singers for Verdi Vol. 1

Similar People
  

Soprano GINA CIGNA - La Gioconda "Suicidio" (1932)


Gina Cigna (6 March 1900 – 26 June 2001) was a French-Italian dramatic soprano.

Contents

Gina Cigna Gina Cigna Wikipedia

Turandot meets her match gina cigna v francesco merli


Biography

Gina Cigna Gina Cigna operatic dramatic soprano

Cigna was born in Angers, department of Maine-et-Loire, to parents of Italian origin. She trained as a pianist at the Paris Conservatory studying with Alfred Cortot and graduated with a gold medal. She then started a career as a recitalist. She met French tenor Maurice Sens, whom she married in 1923, and following his advice turned to singing. She took private lessons with Emma Calvé, Hariclea Darclée and Rosina Storchio, but was mostly self-taught. She made her debut as Geneviève Sens in 1927 at the Teatro alla Scala, in Milan, as Freia in Das Rheingold, and sang minor roles in Boris Godunov and Ariane et Barbe-Bleue under Arturo Toscanini, without much success.

Gina Cigna PD Stock photo Gina Cigna In Verdis Aida In Title Role Italian

Two years later, still at La Scala, but this time under the name Gina Cigna, she sang the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, and this time it was a triumph. A few weeks later she appeared as Elisabeth in Tannhäuser. She was to sing regularly at La Scala until 1945, quickly establishing herself as one of the leading Italian dramatic soprano alongside Maria Caniglia in operas such as Il Trovatore, Un ballo in maschera, La forza del destino, Aida, Andrea Chénier, and Tosca.

Gina Cigna Turandot In questa reggia Gina Cigna YouTube

She recorded Norma in 1937 and Turandot, opposite Francesco Merli, with Magda Olivero as Liù, in 1938, both for Cetra Records. She sang at the Paris Opéra, the Royal Opera House in London, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the San Francisco Opera, and the New York Metropolitan Opera, where she made her debut on 6 February 1937 as Aida.

Gina Cigna Gina Cigna Galliano Castore Passerini Flickr

Cigna's career came to a halt in 1948 when she was involved in a serious car accident and suffered a heart attack. Forced to retire from singing, she turned to teaching. In 1996 at the age of 96 she appeared in Jan Schmidt-Garre's film Opera Fanatic.

Death

Gina Cigna FORGOTTEN OPERA SINGERS Gina Cigna Soprano Paris France 6 3

Cigna died in Milan, Italy, on 26 June 2001, aged 101.

Studio recordings

Gina Cigna FORGOTTEN OPERA SINGERS Gina Cigna Soprano Paris France 6 3

  • Bellini - Norma - Gina Cigna, Ebe Stignani, Giovanni Breviario, Tancredi Pasero - Vittorio Gui - 1937
  • Puccini - Turandot - Gina Cigna, Francesco Merli, Magda Olivero, Luciano Neroni - Franco Ghione - 1938

  • Gina Cigna Gina Cigna Biography Albums Streaming Links AllMusic

    Gina Cigna Giacomo PUCCINI Turandot RH Classical CD Reviews March 2003

    References

    Gina Cigna Wikipedia


    Similar Topics