Renata Tebaldi Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was a renowned Italian lirico-spinto soprano, born on February 1, 1922, in Pesaro, Italy. Her father, Teobaldo Tebaldi, was a cellist, and her mother, Giuseppina Barbieri, was a nurse. Although her parents separated before her birth, Tebaldi grew up with her mother in her maternal grandparents' home in Langhirano.
At the age of three, Tebaldi contracted polio, which led her to develop an interest in music. She sang with the church choir in Langhirano and later received piano lessons from Giuseppina Passani in Parma. Passani encouraged Tebaldi to study voice with Italo Brancucci at the conservatory of Parma, where she was admitted at the age of 17.
Tebaldi's early career was marked by performances in various Italian cities, including Rovigo, Parma, and Trieste. She made her stage debut as Elena in Boito's Mefistofele in 1944 and went on to perform in La bohème, L'amico Fritz, and Andrea Chénier.
Her major breakthrough came in 1946, when she auditioned for Arturo Toscanini, who praised her voice as "la voce d'angelo" or "the voice of an angel." Tebaldi made her La Scala debut that year, singing the "Prayer" from Rossini's Mosè in Egitto and the soprano part in Verdi's Te Deum.
Tebaldi's repertoire expanded to include roles by Verdi, Puccini, and other composers. She performed at the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and San Carlo, and was particularly known for her performances in verismo roles. Italian conductor Riccardo Muti described her as "one of the greatest performers with one of the most extraordinary voices in the field of opera."
Tebaldi's career was marked by numerous accolades and awards, including the title of Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI. She passed away on December 19, 2004, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century.
