Gina Ciaparelli

Italian-born opera singer (soprano voice) (born January 1, 1881 in Novara, Italy – died January 1, 1936 in New York, NY, USA); her married name was Gina Viafora. Ciaparelli studied with Mme. Falci at the Rome Conservatory and had her operatic debut at the Teatro Constanzi, also in Rome. In 1901, she and her husband, Italian cartoonist Giovanni Viafora, emigrated to the United States and became naturalized citizen in 1905. For several years, Ciaparelli was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City, but she also toured widely in Europe; Alexandria, Egypt; Canada; and the United States before she retired from the concert stage and became a voice teacher in New York City. Between 1905 and 1907, Ciaparelli recorded more than 30 titles for Columbia; in 1908, she recorded a further half dozen titles for Victor under her married name, Gina Viafora.