Anita Rio (Soprano) (Almeda, California 1873 – Old Saybrook, Connecticut 1971)

She studied in San Francisco and New York. Her concert debut occurred in 1897 at Boston in ‘’Messiah’’ of Handel. She remained some years as a concert singer in America, then she additionally studied singing in Italy. She married to American song pedagogue Armour Galloway in Milan. In 1909 she made her opera debut at Covent Garden in London as Donna Elvira in ‘’Don Giovanni’’. During the following five years she sang a lot in Italy – in opera performances and at the concert hall. In 1912 she had at the Teatro Costanzi, Roma in Bellini’s ‘’La Sonnambula’’ a shining success opposite Alessandro Bonci. She more often gave guest performances in Genoa and at the Teatro Rossini in Venice. Especially she was famous for her interpretation  of Nedda in ‘’Pagliacci’’ and Madama Butterfly in Puccini’s ‘’Madama Butterfly’’. In 1914 she came back to America and performed there. After the death of her husband she was active in New York as a pedagogue.

Chronology of appearance

1909 London Covent Garden  Don Giovanni (Elvira)

1912 Roma Teatro Costanzi La Sonnambula (Amina)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Edison, New York 15-07-01/07

Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Pronto io son with Arthur Middleton 82301 3939-B

Edison, New York 15-07-19/21

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Ballatella 82301 3991-C