Cecilia Bartoli Sospiri The Sigh

Cecilia Bartoli, (born June 4, 1966, Rome, Italy), Italian operatic mezzosoprano who achieved global stardom with her outstanding vocal skills and captivating stage presence. Both of Bartolis parents were members of the Rome Opera chorus, and she joked that when she was a child, her babysitters were the likes of Rossini and Verdi. She started singing when she was a teenager, and her mother, who coached her, remained her only voice teacher. At age 19, she embarked on a professional career when she sang on a television show with baritone Leo Nucci. Soon after, she attracted the attention of conductors Herbert von Karajan and Daniel Barenboim, both of whom recognized her as an abundantly talented singer with a voice perfectly suited to the difficult coloratura repertoire of Mozart and Rossini.