Florica Cristoforeanu (Mezzo-Soprano) (Rimnicul Sarat 1887 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1960)
She studied the piano, and later singing, in Bucharest and Milan (at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory, with Vanerë Filippi and Bodrilla), making her debut as Lucia at Capodistria in 1908. After touring widely in western Europe she returned to Bucharest for performances in operetta (1910–13). Growing international fame led to her appearances at opera houses throughout Europe, notably at Barcelona, and also at the Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires. She made her debut as Santuzza at La Scala, where she also appeared from 1928 to1932 as Salome under Richard Strauss, as Mariola in the premiere of Ildebrando Pizzetti's Fra Gherardo (1928), and as Carmen and Charlotte (Werther). By the time she retired she had mastered a repertory of more than 90 roles, embracing mezzo, dramatic, lyric and coloratura parts in opera and operetta. In Bucharest her Cio-Cio-San, Minnie (La fanciulla del West), Kundry and Adriana Lecouvreur were especially admired. Her range, both vocal and dramatic, was exceptional, enhanced by a richly coloured timbre and an intense commitment to all her roles. After her death her memoirs Amintiri din cariera mea lirica were published (Bucharest, 1964).
http://www.answers.com/topic/florica-cristoforeanu
Chronology of some appearances
1922 Roma Teatro Adriano Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1922 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1922 Gorizia Teatro Sociale Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1923 La Spezia Politeama Duca di Genova Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1925 Montecatini Kursaal Boheme (Mimi)
1925 Montecatini Kursaal Carmen (Carmen)
1925 Milano Teatro Carcano Carmen (Carmen)
1925 Bucarest Teatro Nazionale Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1926 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Carmen (Carmen)
1926 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Fanciulla del West (Minnie)
1927 Lisbona Coliseo Recrejos Boheme (Mimi)
1927 Lisbona Coliseo Recrejos Carmen (Carmen)
1927 Lisbona Coliseo Recrejos Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1927 Milano Teatro alla Scala Boheme (Mimi)
1927 Milano Teatro alla Scala Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1927 Bergamo Teatro Donizetti Carmen (Carmen)
1928 Brescia Teatro Grande Carmen (Carmen)
1928 Roma Teatro dell'Opera Carmen (Carmen)
1928 Bologna Teatro Comunale Carmen (Carmen)
1928 Santiago del Cile Teatro Municipal Carmen (Carmen)
1928 Venezia Teatro Rossini Carmen (Carmen)
1929 Milano Teatro La Scala Carmen (Carmen)
1929 Roma Teatro dell'Opera Carmen (Carmen)
1929 Torino Teatro Regio Carmen (Carmen)
1929 Modena Teatro Storchi Carmen (Carmen)
1930 Napoli Teatro San Carlo Carmen (Carmen)
1930 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Fanciulla del West (Minnie)
1930 Bergamo Teatro Donizetti Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1930 Lisbona Coliseo Recrejos Carmen (Carmen)
1930 Lisbona Coliseo Recrejos Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)
1931 Trieste Teatro Verdi Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1931 Bergamo Teatro Donizetti Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1932 Parma Teatro Regio Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1932 Roma Teatro dell'Opera Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1932 Pistoia Teatro all'Aperto Boheme (Mimi)
1932 Pistoia Teatro all'Aperto Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)
1934 Roma Teatro dell'Opera Carmen (Carmen)
1934 Ascoli Piceno Teatro Ventidio Basso Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
1936 Roma Teatro dell'Opera Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)
RECORDINGS FOR SALE
Fedora: Vedi io piango with Ferdinando Ciniselli Parlophone P. 56533 2-84537/8
Fedora: Addio, addio a domani with Ferdinando Ciniselli Parlophone P. 56533 2-84538
Carmen: C'est toi? C'est moi! with Ermanno Pezzutti Odeon Fonotipia 172148 xxPh 6634
Carmen: Non, tu ne m'aimes pas with Ermanno Pezzutti Odeon Fonotipia 172147 xxPh 6635
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Manon: Oui, je fus cruelle et coupable with Giovanni Malipiero Odeon Fonotipia xxPh 6676
Manon: N'est-ce plus ma main? with Giovanni Malipiero Odeon Fonotipia xxPh 6677
