Open Features: Rosa Raisa
Peter Wintersgill outlines the career of Polish singer Rosa Raisa who made her operatic debut in Verdi's Oberto.
Born
1893 Bialystok, Poland.
Childhood
She was a child singer.
Adolescence
Fled from Poland to Italy, was taught at Naples Conservatoire by Eva Tetrazzini & Marchesio.
Adult life
Opera debut in Parma as Leonora in Verdi's Oberto 1913, then at La Scala, Milan. Sang Aida at Chicago Opera 1913, then became a member of the company in 1917. Covent Garden debut 1914. She created the role of Asteria in Boito's Nerone Milan 1924. She was chosen by Puccini to be the first Turandot in Milan_in_1926.
She was much admired as Marschallin, Norma & Tosca; She retired in 1938 & taught in Chicago.
She died in 1963 in Pacific Palisades, California aged 70.
