Amelita Galli Curci
Amelita GalliCurci was an Italian coloratura soprano. She was one of the most popular operatic singers of the early 20th century with her gramophone records selling in large numbers.
She was born as Amelita Galli into an uppermiddleclass family in Milan, where she studied piano at the Milan Conservatory, winning a gold medal and at the age ofwas offered a professorship. She was inspired to sing by her grandmother. Operatic composer Pietro Mascagni also encouraged GalliCurcis singing ambitions. By her own choice, GalliCurcis voice was largely selftrained. She honed her technique by listening to other sopranos, reading old singingmethod books, and doing piano exercises with her voice instead of using a keyboard.
Source: Wikipedia