Tarquinia Tarquini

Who was Tarquinia Tarquini?

Tarquinia Tarquini was an Italian dramatic soprano and the wife of composer Riccardo Zandonai. Born in Colle di Val d'Elsa, Tarquini studied singing at the Milan Conservatory and privately in Florence. She made her stage debut in 1905 and spent the next two years performing in opera houses throughout Italy.

In 1907 Tarquini was brought to the United States by impresario Henry Russell to join his Boston based San Carlo Opera Company. She made her debut with the company in Boston as Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana and then embarked on a North American tour with the company. That same year she also performed the title role in the United States premiere of Adriana Lecouvreur at the French Opera House in New Orleans.

Between 1908-1911 Tarquini performed in operas in Austria, Egypt, Italy, and Portugal. Among the roles she sang were Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly, Maddalena de Coigny in Andrea Chénier, Mimì in La bohème, and the title role in Manon. She drew particular acclaim for her portrayal of the title role in Richard Strauss's Salome and, being a good dancer, was notably one of the first opera singers to perform the Dance of the Seven Veils herself; a move which shocked some conservative critics.