PROJECT

LA SOPRANO is an exploration of family, artistic legacy, and music reproduction devices from the past eighty years. Across six episodes, filmmaker Laura Bruno delves into the life of her distant aunt, whom she never met: Amelita Galli-Curci, a 20th-century Italian soprano and diva. Drawing from family memories, interviews, archival audio material, voices from the era, and even the discovery of a player piano with rolls found in the family's old vacation home, 'Villa Gaia,' the podcast unravels the multifaceted life and art of the singer.

Amelita's story spans from the early 1900s to the 1960s, beginning her soprano career in Italy with "Caro Nome" from Giuseppe Verdi's opera Rigoletto, and rising to become a diva in the United States.

She was a principal figure at the Chicago Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. As an exclusive artist for RCA Victor, her voice was extensively recorded in over three hundred acoustic and digital recordings. She shone for a decade until a devastating tumor in her throat, appearing at the peak of her life, ravaged her ascendant career. She retreated to Southern California, where she spent her final days near her disciple and later personal friend, the Hindu yogi and guru, and pioneer of yoga in the West, Paramahansa Yogananda.

Inspired by Amelita, whose anecdotes and records were so familiar to her, Laura embarks on an investigation into a figure she had never truly wondered about—until now.

EPISODES 1-2

EPISODE 1 "Shadow song"

Laura travels with her son, Germán, to the town of La Cumbre in Córdoba, Argentina, to visit Tati, a cousin of her mother's whom she hasn't seen in twenty years. The trip leads Laura to reflect on a celebrated family figure: her great-great-aunt Amelita Galli-Curci, an opera diva from the 1920s. Through family accounts and archival material, including an interview with Amelita herself, the episode narrates the singer's origins and her rise to fame, connecting Laura's personal journey with the singer's story through family history, musical talent, and legacy.

EPISODE 2 “Caro Nome”

The episode focuses on the character of Gilda from Verdi's opera Rigoletto, one of Galli-Curci's most acclaimed performances. ELSA ALIBONI a psychologist and mezzo-soprano, describes the complexity of Gilda's character, from her innocence to her love and sacrifice. The aria "Caro Nome" and Amelita's skill in interpreting it are analyzed. Additionally, Laura explores family history through player piano rolls found in the old Galli family vacation home, "Villa Gaia." PABLO CHIMENTI a musician and sound artist, explains how these rolls work and their connection to the music of Amelita's era. The episode also highlights Amelita's impact on contemporary critics and the public's passion for her singing, showcasing her exceptional charisma and talent.

Amelita and Paramahansa Yogananda, Washington DC, 1927

BIO

The Galli family tree begins in Milan, Italy, where young Amelita enthusiastically embraced the musical education of her time, learning to play the piano. Amelita's early life took an unexpected turn when her father's business went bankrupt, forcing him to travel to Argentina with his sons to rebuild their fortune, while Amelita and her mother remained in Europe.

A pesar de las dificultades económicas, la pasión de Amelita por la música perdura. Perfecciona sus habilidades vocales de forma autodidacta y a fines de 1906 consigue su primer contrato operístico en Roma y desde entonces comienza sus presentaciones y giras por todo el mundo. En 1908 se casa con el marqués Luigi Curci, y añade el apellido de su marido al suyo. Se divorciaron en 1921 y Galli-Curci se volvió a casar con Homer Samuels, su acompañante en piano. En 1915 cantó dos funciones de “Lucia di Lammermoor” con Enrico Caruso en Buenos Aires. Llegó a los Estados Unidos en el año 1916. Estaba planificada una corta estancia, pero el gran éxito que recogió por su interpretación de la Gilda de Rigoletto fue tan extraordinario que aceptó permanecer como integrante de la Chicago Opera Company. Formó parte de esta compañía hasta 1924.

Amelita became an American diva. She signed a contract with the Victor Talking Machine Company (RCA), for which she made a large number of recordings until 1930. In 1921, Galli-Curci joined the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where she remained until her retirement from the stage in 1930. She had suffered from throat problems for many years until, in 1935, she had to undergo surgery to remove a nodule. The following year, she returned to the stage as Mimi in La Bohème in Chicago. Unfortunately, it became clear that her singing years were over, and after a few recitals, she retired permanently and moved to California, where she attended the Self Realization Fellowship, a devotee of her Buddhist master Paramahansa Yogananda. She resided there until her death in November 1963, at the age of 82.