The incredible story of Lina Cavalieri: from a cafe singer to a world-famous opera diva

The star of Lina Cavalieri lit up in the opera sky at the end of the XIX century. Having started her career in cafes and cabarets, the talented singer stubbornly took vocal lessons and eventually reached dizzying heights. The owner of a charming voice was glad to see in the best opera halls of the world. Naples, Paris, London, St. Petersburg ... But, in addition to the stunning success, fate has prepared for Lina Cavalieri and a lot of the hardest trials.

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Source: kulturologia.ru

A refined and refined image.

Lina was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1874, in a simple family. Her childhood could not be called easy and carefree — she managed to work as a flower seller, a dressmaker's assistant and a newspaper packer at a printing house before she first thought about a musical career. Lina's singing career began at the age of 14 thanks to a music teacher who lived next door. Listening to the little girl singing uncomplicated songs, he decided to work out with her and, making sure that nature had gifted the student with talent, took her to audition for the owner of one of the restaurants.

The duo of Lina Cavalieri and Enrique Caruso.

The evenings at which Lina performed were really sold out. Over time, the owners of the best establishments in Rome began to offer her large fees. Her career was going well, but the girl dreamed of another scene, cafes no longer tempted her. At this time, Lina tries herself as a fashion model, becomes the face of various brands (her collaboration with Palmolive is best known). Photographers idolized her, calling her the most beautiful woman of the Belle Epoque. Postcards with her images could be found everywhere, and they sold millions of copies. However, we must pay tribute, Lina Cavalieri always set a condition before filming: her image had to be as restrained as possible.

Lina Cavalieri in an advertisement for Palmolive cosmetics.

In 1897, a significant event took place — Lina Cavalieri received an invitation to perform in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The success was deafening, the audience warmly accepted the singer. Lina's heart has belonged to Russia for a long time since then. The reason for this was, of course, love. The beauty experienced the brightest feelings for the Russian nobleman Alexander Baryatinsky. The feelings were mutual, but the emperor strictly forbade the officer to marry a singer without a family and tribe. According to some reports, the lovers even got married secretly, but the marriage was annulled by imperial order, and the singer was warned that it was time for her to leave the country.

Postcards with images of Lina Cavalieri were sold in millions of copies.

Lina's broken heart yearned for a long time, only in 1908 she decided to marry an American millionaire Robert Chandler. However, the discord with her husband happened after 8 days, and in 1912 the divorce was formalized. What was the reason is unknown, but according to the marriage contract Lina received a huge share of the rich man's fortune.

There was another marriage in Lina's life — with opera singer Lucien Muratore. A daughter, Elena, was born in this union, and Lina herself decided to leave the opera stage. At that time, the singer was 40 years old.

In the following years, Lina Cavalieri starred a lot for advertising, tried herself in movies, wrote a column about beauty in one of the fashion magazines, opened a beauty salon, published an autobiography.

At the age of 53, Cavalieri divorced to marry the famous racing driver Giuseppe Campari. She lived in this marriage for six years until she was widowed. With the outbreak of World War II, Lina decided to become a nurse, despite her advanced age. She died from a bomb that hit her house in Florence. Someone believes that the famous singer saved the richest collection of jewelry and therefore did not leave the house in time. There is no exact evidence of this. The only thing that is known for certain: on February 7, 1944, the most beautiful woman in the world and the most talented opera diva died.