With the passing of Licia Albanese, the last link to the “Golden Age Of Opera” is no longer with us. Acclaimed as one of the best Puccini sopranos, her signature role became MADAMA BUTTERFLY. Unforgettable her passionate recordings of MANON LESCAUT with Jussi Björling and LA BOHÈME with Beniamino Gigli. She died on August 15, 2014 at the amazing age of 101 (according to some sources even 104).

“I’m not a diva”, she said, “only God makes a diva”. Licia Albanese began expressing herself in her native country in 1934 as a substitute for an indisposed MADAMA BUTTERFLY. During her very long career, she turned the Puccini heroine into her signature role with more than 300 performances (72 at the Met). In the first Met telecast she was Desdemona. She sang also Mozart and French opera, but with her feminine and passionate lyric soprano she was born to perform Puccini. I believe, her MANON LESCAUT with the incomparable Jussi Björling (1954 for RCA) will always remain unmatched. She was the last living legend, the last link to the era of Gigli, Martinelli and Björling. There is a wonderful live Met performance with Bergonzi of LA BOHÈME. Who would have thought both singers died in quick succession? Rest in peace, Signora Albanese.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKyC522iE0s