BIDU SAYÃO - O MIO BABBINO CARO

The Brazilian soprano Bidu Sayão singing one of the most famous aria of opera “O mio babbino caro“(Gianni Schicchi - Puccini). She was born in 1902 in Rio de Janeiro(Brazil). She went to France in 1922 where she studied with Reszke. Four years later, she had her “debut“ in the Theater Constranzi di Roma. After her tourneé through Europe, she was invited by Toscanini for apresentations with the Philarmonic Orchestra of New York. In 1937, she had her first role in The Metropolitan Opera House of New York, as Manon(Massenet). She was one of the most respected artist of the Metropolitan Opera house (New York). There, she made 155 apresentations, being 33 as Mimi, a character from “La Bohème“(Puccini). She died in 1999 when she was 96 years old in The United States. Bidú Sayão ( 1902-1999) - great Brazilian soprano, who made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1937, beginning a career that spanned many decades. She sang in many Villa-Lobos premieres and important concerts. Her performance of the aria from Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5 is famous - in the words of Alfred Heller, “when Sayão sang it, it was otherworldly, a great spiritual experience.“ It was sad indeed to hear of her death in March 1999.