Maria Santoliva Villani (Soprano) (1875 - 1948)

After finishing her education she had her first success in guest performances at the Teatro Politeama Garibaldi in Palermo, at the Teatro Mercadante in Naples, at the Teatro Della Pergola in Firenze and at the Teatro Coccia in Novara. In Livorno she sang in A. Ponchielli’s  ‘’Gioconda’’. In 1905 she made guest appearance at the Opera House of Odessa in  ‘’Trovatore’’ and ‘’Ugonotti’’. In 1908 she appeared at the Polietama Rossini in Tunis. In Spain she sang at the Teatro Principal of Valencia. In 1909 she sang at the Teatro Bellini in Naples; in 1910, with an Italian opera troupe, to which also belonged the famous baritone Mattia Battistini, she performed in Bucharest. She was married the bass-baritone Roberto Villani, who belonged to the Italian singer's family Villani. Her daughter Renata Villani was a known soprano. She retired from the stage in 1924.

Chronology of some appearances

1903 Palermo Teatro Politeama Garibaldi Ruy Blas (Maria)
1903 Novara Teatro Coccia Germania (Ricke)

1905 Naples Teatro Mercadante Lucrezia Borgia (Lucrezia)

1905 Odessa Opera House Trovatore (Leonora)

1905 Valencia Teatro Principal Tosca (Tosca)
1906 Firenze Teatro Della Pergola Tosca (Tosca)

1906 Livorno Politeama  Gioconda (Gioconda)

1907 Naples Teatro Bellini Fedora (Fedora)

1908 Tunis Polietama Rossini  Tosca (Tosca)
1910 Bucharest Teatro Lirico Trovatore (Leonora)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone, Milano 1912-03-04

Tosca (Puccini): Vittoria! Vittoria! with Egidio Cunego and Ernesto Badini 054379 02330v

Tosca (Puccini): Giа mi dicon venal with Ernesto Badini 054380 02331v