Renata Scotto

Born in Savona on February 24th 1934, in 1952 debuted at Teatro Gabriello Chiabrera with the role of Violetta in La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, showing immediately outstandings vocal and interpretative skills. In 1953, still at the Teatro Chiabrera she interpreted the leading role in Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. On December 7th 1953 she debuted at the Teatro alla Scala in the role of Walter in La Wally by Catalani. The internationl success came in 1957 when Teatro alla Scala moved to Edinburgh the show La sonnambula by Vincenzo Bellini with Maria Callas. Because of the great success of the show, the organization decided to add some reruns, but Maria Callas couldn’t join these shows, because she was already booked with something else. So with only two days notice on September 3rd 1957 Renata Scotto replaced her, achieving the consacration in the international world of liric singers thanks to the incredible success of her performance. In 1965 debuted with Madama Butterfly at the Metropolitan of New York – with wich later will have collaborated with over three hundred appearance until 1987. Acclaimed everywhere from the Royal Opera House of London, Covent Garden, from the Bolshoi of Moscow to the Staatsoper of Vienna, from the Opéra of Paris to the Liceu of Barcelona, Renata Scotto boast a repertoire of over one hundred roles. In 1986 she work as opera director: in 1995, La traviata at the New York City Opera – aired live on tv – made her win an Emmy Awards. In 1995 on March she created a new production of the same opera, that, airing on the PBS in the series Live from Lincoln Center, prized her with another Emmy Award, for the best television music event. She recorded with all the most known music labels like EMI, Decca/London, CBS, Deutsche Grammophon, RCA e Hungaroton. The list of her most famous videos includes Trittico, Otello, L’elisir d’amore, Lucia di Lammermoor, Fedora, and many others concerts and recitals. Among her most appreciated CDs we remember Norma, Adriana Lcouvreur, Turandot (Liù), Edgar, La traviata, Rigoletto, Requiem by Verdi, Madama Butterfly. In 1995 at the Schwerin Festival in Germany starred in the role of Kundry in Parsifal, receiving the compliments from the german critics. In 1997 she inaugurated the “Renata Scotto Opera Academy” in Albissola Marina and, later at the music conservatory of Westchester in New York. In Italy, Renata Scotto has led advanced courses for the young artist program of the Teatro alla Scala of Milano and at the Istituto Verdi of Parma. She also directed the Opera Studio at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Roma. In 2011 the Metropolitan Opera Guild gave her the “The Met Legend” prize. In 2017 she has been rewarded with the lifetime achievement from the International Opera Awards of London and the Onorificenza Città di Savona. About her have been published the books: Perché sono Renata Scotto by Umberto Bonavini, Renata Scotto. Voce di due mondi by Bruno Tosi. The autobiography of Renata Scotto More than a Diva have been published by Doubleday, distribuita anche in U.K. e in Italia. The Conservatoire Supérieure de Paris and the Juilliard School of New York rewarded her with PHDs in Music. She has been awarded with the Gold Medal for her career by the president of the Italian Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and with the Accademia di Santa Cecilia prize by the president of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano. In the last few years Renata Scotto returned in her hometown where she collaborates with the Teatro dell’Opera Giocosa for whom she leaded some masterclasses and advanced courses focused on the study of the leading roles in the common repertoire, furthermore her activities with the Opera Giocosa take her to work as opera director. In Savona she directed Madama Butterfly (2019), Boheme (2021) and, in particular, in 2020 she gave birth to an incredible edition of the Traviata (the same opera with wich she debuted at the Chiabrera Theater when she was very young) with the conduction of Giovanni Di stefano and with her pupil Rosa Feola who, for the first time, starred in Savona in the role of Violetta.

Reasons for assigning the award

An extraordinary example of how an artist can always be at the top, from the very beginning of her career she has infused a unique musical grandeur to her performances, whose magnificence she continued to expand throughout her amazing professional life. Her interpretations conquered the most famous opera houses around the globe, transmitting emotions and serenity to the audience worldwide. With an inimitable style that favours emotions, splendour, enchantment and charm, she has transmitted her dedication and wisdom, her unparalleled technique, interpretative magnetism and love for music to the new generations.

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