Zola Amaro

Zola Amaro was a Brazilian operatic soprano who achieved international fame in the early 20th century. She was born in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, on 26 January 1891, as Risoleta de la Mazza Simões Lopes. She married Antonio Amaro da Silveira, a lawyer and politician, with whom she had three children. She began her musical studies in Brazil and Argentina, and made her debut in 1919 as Aida at the Thetro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro. She received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, and soon became one of the most popular singers in Brazil. She also performed in other Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Peru. In 1924, she became the first South American soprano to sing at La Scala in Milan, where she appeared under the direction of Arturo Toscanini. She sang in several operas by Verdi, Puccini, Bellini, and Mascagni, among others, and was praised for her powerful voice, expressive interpretation, and dramatic presence. She was especially acclaimed for her role as Norma, which she sang more than 200 times in her career. She also sang in Paris, London, Berlin, and New York, where she debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in 1928. She was considered one of the greatest sopranos of her time, and one of Brazil's most outstanding cultural ambassadors. She retired from the stage in 1932, due to health problems, but made a brief comeback in 1936. She died in her hometown of Pelotas on 14 May 1944, at the age of 53. She left behind a legacy of recordings and performances that are still admired by opera lovers today.