Anita Cerquetti (1931-2014)

[volcanohunter]

Italian media is reporting that the soprano Anita Cerquetti has died.

http://www.lindiscreto.it/macerata/27861-lirica-in-lutto,-è-morta-anita-cerquetti

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4QZ0Vz-YHU

This is an English-language transcript of an interview in which Cerquetti discusses some of the more famous incidents in her career, which ended when she was only 30, notably the shuttling back and forth between Naples and Rome to sing Norma in place of Maria Callas.

http://www.belcantosociety.org/pages/cerquetti.html

[Birdsall]

I have to admit that this is one of the sopranos from the past that I never really "got." Of course, I only know her from the few recordings she made. She definitely sounds like one of the hearty dramatic sopranos that seemed to be in plentiful supply in the 1950s/60s for some reason (and this type of soprano seems to be extinct today). I want to love her and this live rendition of Casta Diva is more impressive than her studio recording (a case of needing to be there), but I wish she did not take as many breaths as she does chopping up Bellini's long lines. Still she would probably mop up the floor with any current Normas today. Comparing her to the Met's most recent Norma (Radvanovsky) I would jump on a plane pronto to see Cerquetti! The speculation of her reasons for quitting so early in her career have added to the mystery and probably collectors' love of her.

[volcanohunter]

Today I think she is primarily remembered for stepping into the breach following Callas' "Rome walkout." Apparently the live recording comes from one of the Rome performances, and it's possible she was breaking up the lines simply because she was very tired. I would be interested to know how many Normas she sang over that stretch and with how much rest between each performance.

[dirac]

Thanks for posting this, volcanohunter. I think there's a pirated recording of her Norma out there from the late fifties but I have never heard it.

[canbelto]

Tito Gobbi said in his autobiography that "health problems" led to her unusually short career. Whatever the reasons, once she decided to step away from opera, her decision was complete. I'm surprised that she never even tried to revive her career with the occasional concert. It's unusual for any singer to disappear so completely. I must admit that when I heard of her passing this week I was surprised she was still alive, as she was so reclusive.

As for her voice I think it must have been very impressive in person but on records she didn't seem lvery refined or much of an interpreter.