Alda Noni

Alda Noni ( born on April 30, 1916) is an Italian soprano leggiero, one of the leading soubrette of the immediate postwar period.

Life and career

Born in Trieste, she first studied voice and piano in her native city, and completed her studies in Vienna. She made her professional debut in Ljubljana in 1937, as Rosina, later appearing in Zagreb and Belgrade.

She sang at the Vienna State Opera from 1942 to 1946, in Mozart, Rossini and lighter Donizetti roles, such as: Susanna, Zerlina, Despina, Adina, Norina. She was chosen by Richard Strauss himself, to sing Zerbinetta in 1944, to celebrate his 80th birthday.

She sang widely in Italy, both on stage and on radio broadcast, where she was much admired in opera by Cimarosa, Paisiello, and Fioravanti, often partnering Cesare Valletti and Sesto Bruscantini.

She also appeared in London, 1946, Glyndebourne, 1949, and made her Paris Opera debut in 1951, as Oscar, later singing Nanetta.

A delightful singer and accomplished actress with a tremendous sense of humour, she can be heard in many recordings made for Cetra in the early 1950s, notably I cantatrici villane, Il matrimonio segreto, L'elisir d'amore, Don Pasquale, I quatro rusteghi.

Sources

• Le guide de l'opéra, les indispensables de la musique, R. Mancini & J-J. Rouvereux, (Fayard, 1986), ISBN 2-213-05163-6