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Mirella Freni became one of the leading stars of opera, known for her lyric voice but with a surprising ability to extend it to the higher spinto roles. She has also been one of the most durable of singers, retaining vocal freshness and attractive stage presence through a career lasting over forty years. She was born Mirella Fregni. She came from a working class backgrounds. Her mother and Luciano Pavarotti were co-workers in the same cigarette factory in Modena and even had the same wet nurse. She studied voice from her uncle, Dante Arcelli. At the age of ten she entered a singing competition, and at twelve won another, singing "Un Bel Di." Beniamino Gigli, hearing her, advised her to undertake serious vocal studies. Her teacher was Ettore Campogalliani in Bologna. She debuted in 1955 in Modena as Micaela in Carmen, won the G.B. Viotti International Competition in 1957, sang a season at the Netherlands operas, and began regular appearances at Glyndebourne in England. She made a maj...