| Gina Cigna recordings |
| There are many wonderful testaments to Cigna's artistry avaliable on CD. Both the first ever complete studio recordings of 'Norma' and 'Turandot' are readily avaliable. The 'Norma' is from August/September of 1937 and is conducted by Vittorio Gui. The cast includes the wonderful Tancredi Pasero and Ebe Stignani. The duets between Cigna and Stignani are easily some the greatest on disc, with Cigna projecting an extraordinary intensity of expression rarely. The 'Turandot' is one of the finest opera recordings that a collector can hope to own. Cigna's characterization is complete, her musicianship faultless and her technique solid. The cast includes the underappreciated tenor of Francesco Merli as Calaf (his 'Nessun Dorma' will make you forget the travesty that was the soccer world cup anthem) and a young Magda Olivero (she was 27) as Liu. This recording leaves no doubt in the listener's mind why Cigna was booked to sing this opera 500 times. Naxos have recently released this recording making it widely available at a very reasonable price. |
| The label G.O.P (Great Opera Performances) has released some great live recordings (though they are also avaliable on other lables.). There is a a live 'Norma' ( with Martinelli, Pinza and Castagna) from New York, 1937, where Cigna "bombs" a B natural at the end of the second act trio. It is a high energy performance in good sound. One of the most noteable of the G.O.P releases is a selection from 'Aida'. The cast includes Cigna, Stignani and Gilgi, and was recorded on a La Scala tour of Berlin in 1937. This is Cigna at her best. Her 'Ritorna Vincitor' is nothing short of a masterpiece. The ferocity of her singing tricks the listener into thinking that it is she and not Radames who is about to lead an army into war. And yet when turning to prayer she is vulnerable and most delilcate. The applause which follows the aria is satisfying, for it proves that Cigna was appreciated in her own time if forgoten in ours. This disk also includes a wonderful radio interview with Cigna (in Italian.) There is also an 'Aida' with Martinelli and Pinza which was made during a successful Met production, though it is a difficult recording to find. It is also an excellent performance, complete and in better sound. On G.O.P there is also an 'Il Trovatore' with Jussi Bjorling, conducted by Gui from London in 1939 which is a remarkable disk. Cigna tensly navigates the lyric lines of Leonora's music, giving a unique performance, and making the role her own with very passionate singing. It is the most intensely portrayed Leonora on disk. As well G.P.O. have a recital disk titled 'Omaggio a Gina Cigna' with studio and live performances from 1929-1942 on two disks. Though there are quite a few recital disks around on many different labels. It should be noted however, that the studio recording practice was never idealy suited to Cigna's voice, (which makes the quality of the recordings even more remarkable.) |
| Cigna also appears in several documentaires. In the late 80's the great baritone Robert Merrill made a film called 'Tosca, I Live for Art' in which he interviews many celebrated soprano's. Cigna appears, aged in her mid-eighties, very beautiful and very entertaining. She also appears (briefly) in the Bel Canto Society's video 'Opera Fanatic' aged 96 along with many other great, "forgotten" divas. See Lanfranco Rasponi's book, "The Last of the Prima Donnas" for an interview with Cigna and other greatr singer's of the past. (Available on abebooks.com) |
| Evident from her recordings, Cigna had a great understanding of musical structure and harmonic tension. Her magnetic stage presence, comanding personality, and gift for characterisation combine to form a singer whose vocal freedom, honesty and spontaneity made her one of the rare breed of sopranos who has truely earned the title 'DIVA'. Gina Cigna as an artist and a teacher you are sorely missed. THANKYOU. |
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