Gemma Bellincioni

Gemma Bellincioni (name in art of Matilda Cesira) (August 18, 1864 – April 23, 1950) was an Italian operatic soprano and one of the best-known opera singers of the late nineteenth century. She was born in Monza, Italy. Her stage presence and acting were particularly suited to the then new style of opera called Verismo; thus, she “created the role” (meaning she was the first to perform) of Santuzzi in Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana". (In the premiere performance of that work on May 17, 1890, her husband, tenor Roberto Stagno, sang the role of Turiddu.) Bellincioni was also the first to perform the title role in Giordano’s "Fedora" on November 17, 1898, and starred in the Italian premiere of Richard Strauss' "Salome" in 1906.

Bellincioni also starred in the silent-film version of "Cavalleria Rusticana" (accompanied by the music of Mascagni) in 1916, directed by Ugo Falena. She wrote a voice instructional manual, "Metodo di canto" (Berlin 1912), and an autobiography, "Io e il palcoscenico" (Milan 1920).

Bellincioni died in Naples, Italy.

ources

*Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), "The Oxford Dictionary of Opera", 782 pages, ISBN 0-19-869164-5
*Obituary article in "il Mattino" (Naples), April 24, 1950.