Renata Scotto, a soprano of uncommon intensity who became a successful director after her singing career, died Wednesday in her hometown of Savona, Italy. She was 89.
Scotto's New York-based manager, Robert Lombardo, said he was called by her family and informed of her death. 鈥淚 had spoken to her several weeks ago and I didn't get any any indication that anything was going on,鈥� he said.
Scotto maintained homes in Italy and Armonk, New York.
鈥淩enata Scotto is a true artist and profound connoisseur of voice and repertoire, gifted with technique, musicality, a personality of a rare power, always at the service of the composer, and able to emotionally stir the public in all the world in every phase of her long career,鈥欌�� soprano Cecilia Gasdia, superintendent of the Fondazione Arena in Verono, said in a statement.
Scotto made 314 appearances at the Metropolitan Opera from her debut in Puccini鈥檚 "Madama Butterfly鈥� on Oct. 13, 1965, to her finale, also as Cio-Cio-San, on Jan. 18, 1987. She also directed during her final run, and that became her new profession.
鈥淚 like to live in the present,鈥� she said in a 2007 interview with The Associated Press. 鈥漁f course, I watch my DVDs. I enjoyed every second of my career. Now I live with the young singers. I love them so much.鈥�
Born Feb. 24, 1934, in Sovona, Scotto debuted there in 1952 as Violetta in Verdi's 鈥淟a Traviata鈥� and sang the role the next day at Milan's Teatro Nuovo.
She debuted at Milan's Teatro alla Scala on Dec. 7, 1957, the opening night of the season, in the title role of Catalani's 鈥淟a Wally鈥� alongside Mario Del Monaco with Carlo Maria Giulini conducting.
When Scotto made her Met debut, The New York Times headlined her as a new star.
鈥淪he is short, on the plump side, with a round face that is remarkably expressive,鈥� Raymond Ericson wrote. 鈥淪he is a lyric coloratura, with a relatively small voice that carries in a big auditorium by virtue of its concentrated tone. And she is a complete actress, in voice and movement.鈥�
When Scotto sang the title role in Bellini's 鈥淣orma鈥� on the opening night of the Met's 1981-82 season, she was booed by Maria Callas fans who were opposed to anyone else singing the role.
She starred alongside Luciano Pavarotti in the first 鈥淟ive from the Met鈥� telecast in 1977, of Puccini's La 鈥淏oh猫me.鈥� As the end of her singing career approached, she turned to directing.
鈥淚 love it. It鈥檚 completely different, of course,鈥� she told the AP. "There鈥檚 more responsibility 鈥� you have responsibility for everybody 鈥� the stage, the scenery. It鈥檚 another perspective. You see the show differently.鈥�
When Deborah Voigt took on the title role of Puccini鈥檚 鈥砊osca鈥� for the first time, at the Florida Grand Opera in 2001, Scotto was her director.
鈥砊he thing that was really most impressive is that she didn鈥檛 try to put her stamp on it,鈥� Voigt said. 鈥砈he led me through it and helped me find my way though the role and my Tosca, which is different from Renata Scotto鈥檚."
Scotto is survived by daughter Laura Anselmi Miller, son Filippo Anselmi and two grandchildren. Lombardo said funeral arrangements were not yet set. Her husband, Lorenzo, died in 2021.
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Associated Press Writer Frances D'Emilio in Rome contributed to this report
Ronald Blum, The Associated Press
