Italian mezzo-soprano. She was one of the first performers to perform in early operas by Monteverdi and Pergolesi. Though she never officially retired, she more or less discontinued performing live in the 1990s, making her career one of the longest in opera history. She sang last time on stage in 2000 (Mamma Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana). Although generally considered a formidable actress and singer in her own right, she is now mostly remembered for regularly partnering Maria Callas on- as well as off-stage during the 1950s. Many of their collaborations (together with other regular partners Giuseppe di Stefano, Boris Christoff, Tito Gobbi, Rolando Panerai, and Serafin) were recorded by Fonit Cetra ("La Gioconda", 1952) and EMI.
