Giovanna Vighi

Giovanna Vighi obtained no more than an honorary diploma in Den Bosch 1962, but she carved out a respectable career for herself in the late 1960’s and 70’s, culminating in a Berlin Komische Oper 1967 performance of Norma with the likes of Mario Del Monaco, and Elinor Ross, which has meanwhile surfaced on a no legendary video. Her live discography further includes a 1966 performance as Preziosilla in La forza del destino from Teatro la Fenice, with again Elinor Ross, tenor Gastone Limarilli, Giovanni Antonini and Silvano Carolli (CD Mondo Musica). Equally fascinating is her 1972 rendition of Enrico in Rossini’s Elisabetta, Regina d’Inghilterra from Palermo, 1972, a long time collectible for the presence of Leyla Gencer in the title role. Her earliest recording to date is a 1963 Nabucco from Oviedo, with Vighi singing Fenena (CD Bongiovanni). Next in line is a 1965 recording of ‘Stride la vampa’ from Il trovatore.

Verdi: Il trovatore ‘Stride la vampe’ Giovanna Vighi (Azucena).

There are two La Wally recordings with Vighi singing Afra, both from 1975, one with Raina Kabaivanska in the title role. In 1976 there is a Messa di Gloria by Donizetti (CD KOCH SCHWANN 1994). Apart from these roles, her repertoire included Carmen, La Principessa di Bouillon, Old woman in Billy Budd, Charlotte in Werther, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Angelina/Cenerentola, Jocaste in Oedipus Rex, and Mutter in Weil’s Der Jasager. Her career included engagements in Adria, Bergamo, Berlin, Bilbao, Edinburgh, New York, Palermo, Parma, Piacenza, Venice, and Wiesbaden.