legendary opera singers
All throughout the year, the Voice Detective pays tribute to legendary Opera Singers of the past and present. Read our dedicated articles on each of these great artists and watch our anthology grow over time.
THE GREATS
Maria Callas, Soprano, December 02, 1923
Of Greek emigré parentage, Maris Callas was conceived in Greece and born in New York. She was baptised Cecilia Sophia Anna...
Alfredo Kraus, Tenor, November 24, 1927
Alfredo Kraus was born on this day in 1927. It is not difficult to acknowledge that he was deserving of the...
Amelita Galli Curci, Soprano, November 18, 1822
Galli Curci was born in Milan, Italy into an upper middle class family of Italo-Spanish heritage. Her musical prowess was evident...
JON VICKERS, TENOR, OCTOBER 29TH, 1926
Born in 1926 in rural Saskatchewan, Jon Vickers was a very private man. Indeed as one of the greatest tenors of...
JENNY LIND, SOPRANO, OCTOBER 6TH, 1820
Jenny Lind 1820 Coined the ‘Swedish Nightingale’, Jenny Lind was born in Stockholm in 1820. Her exceptional voice was noticed at...
ETTORE BASTIANINI, BARITONE, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 1922
ETTORE BASTIANINI 24 September 2022 Today we celebrate the baritone’s baritone, the great Ettore Bastianini, born in Siena, Italy. His voice...
RICHARD TUCKER, TENOR, AUGUST 15TH, 1913
On this day in 1913, the tenor, Richard Tucker, was born in Brooklyn, New York. His career was intimately linked to...
EMMA CALVÉ, SOPRANO, AUGUST 15TH, 1858
EXTENDED FEATURE The acclaimed enigmatic French operatic soprano of the Belle Époque Emma Calvé was born in Department of Aveyron in...
GIUSEPPE DI STEFANO, TENOR, JULY 24TH, 1921
The golden voice of Giuseppe di Stefano, so admired and hero-worshipped by his tenor successors such as Luciano Pavarotti, and Jose...
KIRSTEN FLAGSTAD, SOPRANO, JULY 12, 1895
Kirsten Flagstad was born in Hamar, Norway. Like so many outstanding singers, she grew up in a musically gifted family and...
LUISA TETRAZZINI, SOPRANO, JUNE 29, 1871
Luisa Tetrazzini Coloratura soprano Luisa Tetrazzini was born on this day in 1871 in Florence. It is a lesser known fact,...
JOHN MCCORMACK, TENOR, JUNE 14, 1884
John McCormack Could any singer have ever received so many accolades, titles and fame in their lifetime? Maybe Beniamino Gigli did…...
ROBERTO ALAGNA, TENOR, JUNE 07, 1963
“I have never particularly believed in astrology, but experts have always stated that I have all the characteristic of Gemini: very...
GEORGE LONDON, BASS-BARITONE, MAY 30, 1920
George London was born in Montreal to Russian U.S émigrés parents, and was brought up in Los Angles. He possessed a...
DAME NELLIE MELBA,SOPRANO, MAY 19TH 1861
The famous Nellie Melba, who was born in 1861, was a woman on a mission. After a modest start to her...
GIULIETTA SIMIONATO, MEZZO-SOPRANO, MAY 12TH 1910
Born in Forli, the city once ruled by the so-called Tigress of Forli, Caterina Sforza, Giulietta Simionato’s singing talent was recognised...
MONTSERRAT CABALLÉ, APRIL 12TH, 1933
No diva in memory has sung such an all-encompassing amount of the soprano repertory, progressing through virtually the entire range of...
FRANCO CORELLI, APRIL 8TH, 1921
the days before there were “Kings”, Franco Corelli was hailed “The Prince of Tenors”. There were good reasons for this epithet...
Beniamino Gigli, March 20th, 1890
Beniamino Gigli, whose surname translated into English means Lilies has his birthday today. Certainly his lirico-spinto voice was as perfect, sweet...
Dame Eva Turner, March 10, 1892
Remembering today the legendary British dramatic soprano, described by Arturo Toscanini as “a beautiful voice, beautiful pronunciation and beautiful appearance.” (1)...
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa March 6, 1944
Edit Column Today we celebrate Dame Kiri Te Kanawa: the beautiful, full, warm voiced lyric soprano associated and celebrated for her...
LAUNCHING OF THE VOICE DETECTIVE SHOW ON 151ST ANNIVERSARY OF ENRICO CARUSO’S BIRTH
The Voice Detective aka Gyaan Lyon is excited to launch today The Voice Detective Show on the 151st Anniversary of Enrico...
LAUNCHING OUR VOICE DETECTIVE WEBSITE ON THE 103rd ANNIVERSARY OF MARIO LANZA’S BIRTH
On this day, the 103rd anniversary of the great Italian-American tenor Mario Lanza’s birthday, the Voice Detective wishes to pay tribute...