Tebaldi, Renata (1922– )

Italian dramatic soprano. She was renowned for the nobility and warmth of her voice, her elegant stage presence, and her title roles in operas such as Tosca, Aïda, and Madame Butterfly. She sang at La Scala 1946–54 and subsequently in many other opera houses, including several seasons at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, 1955–73. She retired from singing in 1976.

She made her professional debut at Rovigo, Italy, in 1944, and was invited by Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini to appear at the reopening of La Scala, Milan, in 1946. Shortly after her 1955 debut at the Metropolitan, she began appearing regularly there as Mimi in La Bohème, Cio-Cio-San in Madame Butterfly, Tosca in Tosca, Desdemona in Otello, Manon in Manon Lescaut, and Violetta in a staging of La Traviata built specially for her.