Rosina Torri (Soprano) (Parma 1898 – Milan 1975)

                                                   

Cio-Cio-San

She studied at the Parma Conservatory first violin, then song. She debuted in 1919 at the Teatro Sociale of Valenza as Mimi in ‘’La Boh¨me’’. In 1921 she guested at the theatre of Sassari (Sardinia) as Margherita in Boito’s ‘’Mefistofele’’. In 1922 she sang at the Italian opera house in Holland. In 1924 she appeared at La Scala as Musetta in ‘’La Boh¨me’’; there she also performed in 1926 in the premiere of the opera ‘’Il diavolo nel campanile’’ of Lualdi. In 1925 she came to the opera house of San Francisco where she debuted in ‘’Manon’’ of Massenet and was very successful. In 1926 she created the role of  Liu in Puccini’s ‘’Turandot’’ for the opera house of Rome. The same part she sang in 1928 in the festival in the Arena di Verona. In 1926 she appeared in Covent Garden as Musetta. She had big success in the Italian provincial stages. In 1929 she sang at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples in the premiere of the opera ‘’Don Giovanni’’ of Felice Lattuada. In 1934 she at La Scala again the role of Musetta in ‘’La Boh¨me’’ which counted as her star role. She had married in 1930 the composer and conductor Stefano Vittadini and probably retired from the stage. 

Chronology of some appearances

1919 Valenza Po  Teatro Sociale Boheme (Mimi)
1919 Oneglia  Politeama Umberto I° Boheme (Mimi)
1921 Amsterdam  Paleis Voor Volksvlijt Boheme (Mimi)
1922 Amsterdam  Paleis Voor Volksvljit Boheme (Mimi)
1922 Parma  Politeama Reinach Boheme (Mimi)
1924 Milano Teatro La Scala Boheme (Musetta)
1925 Brescia  Teatro Sociale Boheme (Mimi)
1925 Parma Teatro Regio Boheme (Musetta)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Electrola, 20-11-1926
Turandot (Puccini): Signore Ascolta  E. G. 445 7-253149

Turandot (Puccini): Tu che di  E. G. 445 7-253150

HMV Milano, 1928
Complete Boheme (Puccini) with Aristodemo  Giorgini, Ernesto Badini,  Thea Vitulli, Luigi Manfrini and  Aristide Baracchi