Tebaldi, Renata, << tuh BAHL dee, ruh NAH tuh >> (1922-2004), an Italian singer, became one of the great operatic sopranos of her time. Her voice was noted for its evenness and velvety quality. Tebaldi performed almost exclusively in Italian operas. Her early lyric roles included Desdemona in Otello and Mimi in La Boheme. She progressed to more dramatic roles, including the title roles in Aida and Tosca.
Renata Ersilia Clotilde Tebaldi was born on Feb. 1, 1922, in Pesaro. She made her debut in Rovigo, Italy, in 1944 as Elena in Mefistofele. She first sang in the United States in 1950 in San Francisco and made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1955 as Desdemona. She sang there regularly until 1973. She died on Dec. 19, 2004.
