Mirella Freni

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Mirella Freni, OMRI (Italian: [mirni], born Mirella Fregni, 27 February 1935 – 29 February 2020) was an Italian operate soprano who appeared in major international opera houses. She attracted worldwide attention at the Glyndebourne Festival, where she appeared in Mozart's Don Giovanni as Zerlina and as Adina in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore.

Freni is best known for the role of Mimi in Puccini's La bohème, which appeared in her opera repertoire from 1957 to 1999, and when she appeared at La Scale in Milan and the Vienna State Opera in 1963, directed by Herbert von Karajan. She appeared in a film of the production as well as at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1965. She portrayed her characters convincingly in both acting and singing on the first opera DVDs. Freni was married for many years to Bulgarian bass Nicolai Ghiaurov, with whom she appeared and recorded. "Matchless Italian prima donna" is her obituary from The New York Times.

Life

Luciano Pavarotti, a native of Modena, had the same wet-nurse with whom she grew up and who was to become a regular tenor partner on stage. She began training with her uncle, Dante Arcelli, and then with Luigi Bertazzoni and Ettore Campogalliani. She later changed her name because it was easier to say. Freni made her opera debut at the Teatro Municipale in her hometown on March 3, 1955 as Micala in Bizet's Carmen. Leone Magiera, the pianist and director of Leone Magiera, later married her; the couple had a child. Freni regained her career in 1958 as she appeared in Puccini's La bohème at the Teatro Regio in Turin, and she also appeared in the De Nederlandse Opera's 1959-60 season. Susanna in Mozart's Don Giovanni, alongside Joan Sutherland in 1960, and Adina in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, was her international debut.

Freni appeared in Verdi's Falstaff in 1961, first performing in the Royal Opera House in London as Nannetta. Renata Scotto took over as Nanetta at La Scala in Milan. She appeared as Mimi in a Franco Zeffirelli-directed production directed by Herbert von Karajan on January 31, 1963. She became one of conductors and concert singers. The performance was a hit at the Vienna State Opera the same year, and she appeared in 111 roles, including Puccini's Manon Lescaut's title role and Amelia in Verdi's Simon Boccanegra.

She appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on September 29, 1965, first as Mimi, with Gianni Raimondi as Rodolfo, who also made his house debut. In the New York Herald Tribune, reviewer Alan Rich wrote: 'In the New York Herald Tribune, he wrote: "According to reviewer Alan Rich, you're right" a reviewer.

Susanna, Micaela, Manon Lescaut appeared in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, Liù in Puccini's Turandot, Juliette, as Susanna, Micaela, and Manon Lescaut. Rodolfo appeared on Mim again in Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company's debut in 2007, with Flaviano Lab as Rodolfo. Freni performed more Verdi roles, including Elisabetta in John Dexter's production of Don Carlos, Desdemona in Otello (alongside Jon Vickers), Amelia in Simon Boccanegra, Elvira in La forza del destino in 1986, as well as Aida in the Houston Grand Opera's title role. She appeared on Puccini's Tosca only on tape. In the 1990s, she appeared in Manon Lescaut's Metropolitan Opera, as well as recording Madama Butterfly and the three roles of Il trittico.

Freni weighed in on her roles carefully, saying in an interview: "I am generous in many ways, but not when I think it will destroy my voice." Some musicians believe they are gods who can do everything. "I have always been open to myself and my possibilities." In Verdi's Il trovatore and the title role in Puccini's Turandot, Karajan turned down Karajan's bids of Leonora. Elvira in Ernani was turned down for a single run at La Scala (and despite promises to perform the role elsewhere). She never sang Cio-San on stage, but she did film it twice, not including the 1975 film Madama Butterfly, with Karajan conducting and Jean-Pierre Ponnelle directing. Susanna appeared in Le nozze di Figaro, which also stars Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Kiri Te Kanawa, and Hermann Prey.

She married Nicolai Ghiaurov, one of the leading operatic basses of the postwar period, in 1978, after her marriage to Magiera had resulted in divorce. They worked together to found the Centro Universale del Bel Canto in Vignola, where they began teaching master classes in 2002. Freni continued their attempts to preserve the bel canto style after Ghiaurov's death in 2004, by training young singers from around the world.

Freni extended her repertoire and style during the 1990s with Italian Verismo, taking on the title roles of Francesco Lecouvreur in Milan, Barcelona, and New York, as well as Umberto Giordano's Fedora in London, Milan, Barcelona, and Zürich. Madame Sans-Gêne, a Giordano's role, appeared at Teatro Massimo Bellini in 1997. During this period, she appeared in Russian operas, including Tchaikovsky's Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, Lisa in The Queen of Spades, and Ioanna in The Maid of Orleans. Freni completed her career on stage, premiering Ioanna at the age of 70 at the Washington National Opera on 11 April 2005.

Freni died in Modena on February 9, 2020 at her home. She died "after a long degenerative illness and a string of strokes," her boss explained. Her coffin was transferred from the funeral home to Teatro Comunale Modena for public recognition on Tuesday and then moved in a procession to Modena Cathedral, where the funeral took place.

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