Hariclea Darclee

Hariclea Darclée was a celebrated Romanian operatic spinto soprano of Greek descent who had a three-decade-long career. Her repertoire ranged from coloratura soprano roles to heavier Verdi roles, including many in the Franco-Italian lyric repertory. Throughout her career, she participated in several world premieres, creating the title roles in Giacomo Puccini's Tosca, Pietro Mascagni's Iris, and Alfredo Catalani's La Wally. Puccini reportedly considered her to have been "the most beautiful and exquisite Manon". Enciclopedia dello Spettacolo named Darclée "world's greatest singer for 25 years". Darclée was considered the equivalent, in the opera world, of Sarah Bernhardt.