Gina Cigna

Gina Cigna (6.03.1900 - 26.06.2001) - soprano.

Gina Cigna was born in France to parents of Italian origin. Her career seemed to point towards instrumental music, for she started by studying the piano, becoming a singer later after studying on her own, tought with important advice form three great singers: Emma Calvé, Hariclea Darclée and Rosina Storchio. She made her debut at La Scala as Freja in Wagner"s Rheingold in 1927, singing as Ginette Sens (having married the tenor Maurice Sens). She later chose to use ber maiden name, Gina Cigna, as her stage name.

A great actress, with a strong character and a powerful voice, a genuine soprano di forza, her favourites included Norma, Gioconda, Turandot. The duet from Ponchielli"s opera, L"amo come il fulgor del creato, where she sings with Cloe Elmo, shows us her perfect identification with the character: an indomitable woman fighting with all her spirit to defend her love. Cigna also devoted her attention to the rediscovery of forgotten titles such as Rossini"s Mosé, Bellini"s La Straniera, Gluck"s Alceste, Ponchielli"s Il Figliuol Prodigo, Monteverdi"s L"incoronazione di Poppea and Boito"s Nerone. After a heart complaint obliged her to retire from the stage in 1947, she turned to teaching (her pupils included Fiorenza Cossotto).

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