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Artist
Virginia Zeani
12+ albums
operaClassicalunderratedsopranoBest Voices In History
about
Virginia Zeani (born Virginia Zehan, October 21, 1925, in Transylvania, Romania) is a Romanian-Italian operatic soprano, regarded as one of the great sopranos of the 20th century and one of the great musical personalities in the history of Romania. The Venetian Arts Society named her "one of the most vocally and artistically gifted of the Grand Divas of the Golden Age" and a "Super Star in the history of opera". Known both for her golden voice and her impeccable technique, Virginia Zeani is also famous for being one of the most beautiful opera singers of all time. Federico Fellini said that Virginia Zeani personified for him "the beauty of the opera singer" and confessed in a letter that he used to secretly admire her in the mornings when she was making vocalizations. Maria Callas's former husband, Giovanni Battista Meneghini, once told Zeani: "Virginia, I have to tell you, you are one of the very few sopranos my wife is frightened of!" She is one of the greatest interpreters of the role of Violetta Valéry (from Verdi's La traviata) in recorded history, being often called by the press and opera lovers "Violetta supreme". She is also the artist with the greatest number of performances in the role of Violetta ever, with an estimated 648 interpretations. Zeani was a particular favorite of composer Francis Poulenc, who chose her to sing the lead role in the world premiere of his Dialogues of the Carmelites. Following her retirement from the opera stage, Zeani remained active
top songs
1
Manon Lescaut: “Sola, perduta, abbandonata” (From “Hanna and Her Sisters”)
422La Sonnambula: Ah, non credea mirarti
263La Traviata: Ah, fors`è lui... sempre libera
234La Traviata: Addio del passato
215I Puritani: Qui la voce sua soave... vien diletto
196Lucia di Lammermoor: Regnava nel silenzio... quando rapita in estasi
177La Boheme: Si, mi chiamano mimi
168Tu che di gel sei cinta
139Lucia di Lammermoor: Il dolce suono
1310Quando M'en Vo'
12albums
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Virginia Zeani
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Virginia Zeani - Operatic Recital
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20 Great Soprano Arias
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100 Must-Have Movie Classics
One Fine Day
Il Mito dell'Opera - Virginia Zeani (Live Recordings 1957-1969)
Operatic Recital
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Il mito dell'opera: Virginia Zeani, Vol. 4
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Arii din opere de Verdi şi Puccini
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The Voice Of Puccini
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Great Italian Soprano Arias
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100 Must-Have Movie Classics, Vol. 2