Saturday, March 11, 2006

Obit: Anna Moffo, 73, Soprano a Hit on TV and in Opera Houses

The ANNOTICO Report


Anna Moffo, a dark, graceful soprano who thrilled audiences on television's "Bell Telephone Hour" as well as in opera houses in the United States and Europe starting in the late 1950s,  was hailed for her glamorous looks as much as her singing.

 

Moffo made her debut as Cio-Cio-San in Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" in a 1955 television production,at the age of 23, made her U.S. debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1957 as Mimi in Puccini's "La Boheme," then had her Met debut on Nov. 14, 1959, in the role of Violetta in Verdi's "La Traviata.".

 

When she sang the title role in Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" at the Met on Jan. 4, 1965, the New York Times' Theodore Strongin wrote that she "sang the whole role, including the Mad Scene, for pathos, for lyricism, for purity of musical line. Her Lucia is a gentle, willowy creature, quite defeated by the events that surround her."

Several classical albums featuring Moffo were nominated for Grammys over the years.

Her last regular performance at the Met was as Violetta on March 15, 1976, when she was still in her early 40s, soon after which her voice failed her, and forced her into retirement.

 

Anna Moffo, 73; Soprano a Hit on TV and in Opera Houses

 

Los Angeles Times

From the Associated Press
March 11, 2006

Anna Moffo, a dark, graceful soprano who thrilled audiences on television's "Bell Telephone Hour" as well as in opera houses in the United States and Europe starting in the late 1950s, has died, the Metropolitan Opera announced Friday. She was 73.

Opera News Online, operated by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, said she died Friday, and a New York City funeral home confirmed her death to the company, where she starred for two decades. The cause of death was not announced.

Hailed for her glamorous looks as much as her singing, her career ended when she was just in her 40s, her voice only a shadow of what it was.

Moffo made her debut as Cio-Cio-San in Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" in a 1955 television production directed by future husband Mario Lanfranchi, according to Opera News.

She made her U.S. debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1957 as Mimi in Pucc! ini's "La Boheme," then had her Met debut on Nov. 14, 1959, in the role of Violetta in Verdi's "La Traviata."

When she sang the title role in Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" at the Met opposite Carlo Bergonzi's Edgardo on Jan. 4, 1965, the New York Times' Theodore Strongin wrote that she "sang the whole role, including the Mad Scene, for pathos, for lyricism, for purity of musical line. Her Lucia is a gentle, willowy creature, quite defeated by the events that surround her."

Several classical albums featuring Moffo were nominated for Grammys over the years.

Her last regular performance at the Met was as Violetta on March 15, 1976, when she was still in her early 40s.

The New York Times' Donal Henahan said after that performance that her voice had fallen into "serious disrepair a few seasons back and has not recovered much."

Moffo was born in Wayne, Pa., on June 27, 1932, according to Grove. Moffo studied at Philadelphia's Curtis Institut! e of Music and in Italy on a Fulbright scholarship.

Her marriage to Lanfranchi ended in divorce. Her second marriage to broadcast executive Robert Sarnoff, who headed the NBC television network in the late 1950s and early '60s and later was CEO of parent RCA, ended with his death in 1997.