Gilda dalla Rizza

An Italian soprano, closely associated with Puccini in his last years. She studied at Bologna with Alerano Ricci and made her debut there in 1912 as Charlotte. She created Magda in La rondine, one of thirteen creations in a repertory of fifty-eight roles, and was the first Italian Suor Angelica and Lauretta in 1919; after hearing her Minnie at Monte Carlo, Puccini said he had at last seen his Fanciulla, and he had Liù in mind for her, though another singer created the part. She was at La Scala from 1923 to 1939 and taught at Venice until 1955.