Legendary dramatic soprano who sang publicly for more than 70 years passes at 104.

The great Italian soprano Magda Olivero died yesterday in Milan according to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. She was 104 and had a stage career lasting over 50 years. Her public performances spanned 70 years, making her final appearance at the extraordinary age of 99. With the passing a few weeks ago of Licia Albanese at the age of 105 it feels distinctly like the end of an era.

Never a major recording artist, Olivero gained the respect of her peers, students and a host of fans as a result of an enduring voice, a considerable dramatic talent and a rock solid technique. Her ability to keep pushing the boundaries (she made her Met debut as Tosca at the age of 65!) ensures her place in operatic history.

Born Maria Maddalena Olivero in the Piedmontese town of Saluzzo in 1910, she made her operatic debut in 1932 singing in Nino Cattozzo’s (long forgotten) oratorio, I Misteri Dolorosa for a Turin radio broadcast. Her stage debut was the following year in Turin and she went on to have a successful career in the Italian lyric and dramatic...