As the daughter of Francesco Pandolfini, she first studied the piano in Paris. She trained as a singer under Jules Massart and made her debut in Faust at Modena in 1894. Later that year in Malta she became associated with the new verismo operas, and was soon known throughout Italy as an outstanding Mimi. 1897 brought her debut at La Scala where, in 1902, she created the title role in Francesco Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur. She sang principally in Italy and was Darclee's successor in the role of Tosca in both Milan and Rome. In 1892 Pandolfini created the title role in the world premiere of Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur. She developed quite a reputation in the verismo repertory but her voice was beginning to show some strain when she retired at the age of thirty-eight to be married (1909).
Chronology of some appearances
1894 La Valletta/Malta Teatro Reale Cavalleria Rusticana (Lola)
1896 Firenze Teatro Pagliano Boheme
(Mimi)
1896 Bologna
Teatro Comunale Boheme (Mimi)
1897 Milano Teatro La Scala Boheme (Mimi)
1897 Venezia Teatro Rossini Boheme (Mimi)
1898 Il Cairo
Teatro Khediviale Boheme (Mimi)
1898 Alessandria
d'Egitto Teatro Zizinia Boheme (Mimi)
1901 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Boheme
(Mimi)
1902 Il Cairo
Teatro Khediviale Boheme (Mimi)
1902 Milano Teatro Lirico Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1903 Trieste
Teatro Verdi Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1903 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1904 Buenos Ayres Teatro dell'Opera Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1905 Alessandria
d'Egitto Teatro Zizinia Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1905 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1907 Venezia Teatro La Fenice Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
G&T, Milano 1903-10
Chanson de Florian (Godard) 53333 Con364
Nozze di
Figaro (Mozart): Deh vieni non tardar 053037 Con718
All'ombra
di quel faggio (Taubert) 053038 Con719
Adriana
Lecouvreur (Cilea): Io sono l'umile ancella 53340 Con371
Mefistofele
(Boito): L'altra notte 053044 Con735
