Loretta Di Franco

Loretta Di Franco (October 28, 1942 – December 30, 2024) was an American operatic soprano. She was known for her more than 900 performances at the Metropolitan Opera from 1961 to 1995.

Biography Di Franco was born in New York City on October 28, 1942. and the peasant girl in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro in 1961. She went on to win the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1965 which led to her engagement as a soloist. Her first substantial role was Chloe in Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades. She appeared in 929 performances at and with the Met, placing her 36th on the list of the company's performers with the most appearances.

Di Franco also worked as a concert singer. She appeared as a guest, at major houses in the U.S. and at the 1975 Salzburg Festival as Hüterin der Schwelle in Die Frau ohne Schatten by R. Strauss.

Videography Mozart: Idomeneo (1982), Deutsche Grammophon DVD, 00440-073-4234, 2006 The Metropolitan Opera Centennial Gala, Deutsche Grammophon DVD, 00440-073-4538, 2009