FAREWELL TO…
Mirella Freni
Born 1935 Soprano
As talented an actress as she was a singer, Mirella Freni’s 50-year career saw her become one of the most sought-after sopranos of her generation. Born in Modena, she grew up alongside Luciano Pavarotti, with whom she shared a wet nurse and whose mother. Her most returned-to role was perhaps that of Mimì in , but she also took on many of the great Italian bel canto roles, either on stage or on record, doing so with characteristic grace and expression. An artist of great conviction, Freni knew her limitations and often turned down roles she felt didn’t suit her voice. She was also a committed educator and set up a centre for bel canto singing in Vignola, where she gave masterclasses with her second husband, the Bulgarian bass Nicolai Ghiaurov.
