Isabella Paoli

She began her career in 1878 in operetta. Blessed with both beauty and vocal talent, she quickly became a great success. She subsequently appeared in opera, an early performance having been in Valencia, 1889, as Elsa in ‘’Lohengrin’’. Heard in a number of Italian theaters, including the Politeama in Genoa, the Dal Verme in Milano, and the Mercadante in Naples, Paoli gained considerable attention, both for her on stage performances and her prima donna behavior with related scandals and eccentricities. She died as a result of complications following surgery while engaged to sing Gioconda at the Duse Theater in Bologna. Judging from her records, she was one of the great dramatic sopranos of her era.

• http://greatestoperasingers.blogspot.fi/2015/08/isabella-paoli-sopr...

Woman with a fiery character, she had an adventurous life with a behavior for the epoch very eccentric and that she brought her to also have a duel. Thanks to the attractive aspect she devoted her to the Café Chantal and to the operetta. Death arrived because of the bad result of a surgical operation.

• http://www.lavoceantica.it/Soprano/Paoli%20Isabella.htm

Samples of her recordings

• Isabella Paoli: "Voi lo sapete o mamma", 1902 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV9E82DVfLw
• Isabella Paoli: "Suicidio!", 1902 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C91bvfHaKmE