Giannina Arangi-Lombardi began her career in Rome as a mezzo in 1920 but four years later, after further study, emerged again as a soprano, making her second debut in Milan. Born near Naples in 1891, Arangi-Lombardi was one of the most admired 'classical-style' sopranos of her day, basing her career at La Scala; she appeared in South America and throughout Europe (but never at Covent Garden) in a number of spinto roles and her portrayals of Lucrezia Borgia, Aida and La Gioconda were specially successful In retirement she taught in Milan and Turkey and died in Italy in 1951.
