Fiorenza Cossotto |

Fiorenza Cossotto

She made her debut in 1957 (Milan, as Matilda in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites). Since 1959 she sang in Covent Garden (parts of Azucena, Santuzza in Rural Honor). Great success came in 1961 (La Scala, Leonora in Donizetti’s The Favorite). The performances of the singer at the Metropolitan Opera began with triumph (since 1968, she made her debut as Amneris).

Cossotto is one of the greatest mezzo-sopranos of the mid-20th century. The range of her voice allowed her to perform dramatic soprano parts (for example, Santuzza). Toured with La Scala in Moscow (1964, 1974). The repertoire also includes the parts of Rosina, Carmen, Eboli in the opera Don Carlos, Renata in Prokofiev’s Fiery Angel.

Among the performances of recent years is the part of Ulrika in Un ballo in maschera (1990, Vienna Opera). Recordings include Lady Macbeth (conductor Muti, EMI), Leonora in Donizetti’s The Favorite (conductor Boning, Decca).

E. Tsodokov, 1999