Lucilla Udovich

Lucilla Udovich(September 7, 1930 – September 23, 1999) was an Americansopranoof Croatian ancestry.

Life story

Early years

Udovich was born inDenver, Colorado,and grew up inCalifornia.She studiedsinging,violin,pianoandsolfeggioat the Community Music School in San Francisco, later continuing her studies in New York atColumbia UniversityandHunter College.During this period Udovich sang church music and appeared in musical comedies.

Italian career

She appeared in a series of concerts aroundMilan,and then moved toRome,where she remained for the rest of her life.Beniamino Gigliinvited her to perform with him in one of his last concert tours in Italy. Udovich made her opera debut inAgnese di HohenstaufenbySpontiniin 1954 at theMaggio Musicale FiorentinowithFranco CorelliandGiangiacomo Guelfi,conducted byVittorio Gui.She inaugurated a second festival withAntigoneby the baroque composerTommaso Traetta.

She made other appearances with the Santa Cecilia Orchestra inBartók'sA Kekszakallu Herceg Vara,inVerdi'sRequiem,andRossini'sPetite messe solennelle;with the RAI Orchestra inBenjamin Britten'sPeter GrimesandWar Requiem,andSchönberg'sGurre-Lieder.Udovich performed at theRome Opera,Teatro Comunalein Florence,Teatro la Fenicein Venice, and theTeatro San Carloin Naples. At theGlyndebourne Festival Operashe sang Elettra inMozart’sIdomeneo.She was invited toTorre del Lagofor the 100th anniversary ofPuccini's birth. She is best remembered for a performance ofTurandotwithFranco Corellitelecast by RAI in 1958.

Her career was halted due to back problems. She died in Rome at age 69.

Outside Italy

Outside Italy, Udovich performed in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Barcelona, Split, Zagreb, Ankara, Tel Aviv, Oslo, Dublin, Paris and London. Her American appearances included San Francisco, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and Houston.

Recordings

• Spontini: Agnese di HohenstaufenwithFranco Corelli,Giangiacomo Guelfi,conducted by Vittorio Gui
• Puccini: TurandotwithFranco Corelliconducted byFernando Previtali.