Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Albanese, Licia
- Abstract:
- Papers of operatic soprano Licia Albanese.
- Extent:
- 25 Linear Feet (17 cartons and 13 flat boxes)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], Licia Albanese papers, PA Mss 162. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection contains bound program books, scrapbooks, personal correspondence, published vocal scores, and acetate discs.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Licia Albanese (July 22, 1909-August 15, 2014) was an Italian-American operatic soprano. Born in in Torre Pelosa, Noicattaro, Italy, Albanese grew up taking voice lessons and studying under other opera performers. She debuted in Milan in 1934 as Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly - a role for which she would become most well known for.
In the latter half of the 1930s she toured throughout Europe, and by 1940 she began a residency at New York City's Metropolitan Opera (Met). Albanese performed at the Met for 26 seasons, performing over 400 times in 17 roles throughout 16 operas. Alongside performing on stage, she also participated in a number of radio broadcaset concert performances.
Although based in New York, she was also a regular performer at the San Francisco Opera throughout the 1940s, '50s, and '60s. Albanese formally retired in the 1960s, but continued to perform and teach in New York through the '80s. In 1974, Albanese and her husband, Joseph A. Gimma, established the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation which aimed to support up-and-coming young artists.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Joseph Gimma, 2020.
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Sopranos (Singers)
Opera singers
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and may be retained by the creator and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.
All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@library.ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or their assignees for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], Licia Albanese papers, PA Mss 162. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
- Location of this collection:
-
UC Santa Barbara LibrarySanta Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
- Contact:
- (805) 893-3062