Sofia Scalchi

Sofia Scalchi (November 29, 1850-August 22, 1922) was an Italian contralto. Born in Turin, she studied with Augusta Boccabadati, making her debut in Mantua in "Un ballo in maschera" in 1866. Her first major success came at Covent Garden, where on November 5, 1868, she made her debut as Azucena in "Il trovatore". She appeared with the company each season thereafter until 1890. In 1882 she came to the United States to sing with Mapleson's company.

Scalchi was among the first singers to make her debut with the Metropolitan Opera, singing in the October 22, 1883 performance of Charles Gounod's "Faust" that inaugurated the company. She returned to Mapleson in 1884, remaining with him for four more years; in 1891 she went back to the Metropolitan, where she spent five further seasons. She appeared in a number of American premieres, including those of "Otello", "Falstaff", "La Gioconda", and "Andrea Chénier".

Scalchi retired from the stage in 1896. She died in Rome in 1922.

References

*David Ewen, "Encyclopedia of the Opera: New Enlarged Edition". New York; Hill and Wang, 1963.