Like her predecessors Ebe Stignani, Fedora Barbieri and Giulietta Simionato before her, Fiorenza Cossotto was considered one of the prime exponents of the heavy Italian mezzo-soprano roles of the middle 19th century. Cossotto’s tremendous instrument – one of the most powerful dramatic mezzo-soprano voices of the 20th century – was highly regarded for its impressive range, flexibility and for the consistency with which she managed to move through its different registers: from a blazing chest voice to an easy and nimble high register. According to Enzo Bordello, “Cossotto’s voice was ringing, rock-solid and massive. My eardrums vibrated for hours after one of her performances.” Hers was not merely a huge dramatic voice; rather, it was a sumptuous, well-schooled and fluid instrument capable of great agility.

Cossotto will be remembered the annals of operatic history for the extraordinary power and unique timbre of her voice. Fortunately many of her "live" performances were recorded for prosperity and her recorded legacy encompasses a large catalogue of commercial recordings, augmented by many broadcasts and pirated performances available on CD and DVD.

In this On And Off The Record podcast, Adriaan Fuchs explores the phenomenal voice and artistry of Fiorenza Cossotto. For more information, please visit: www.onandofftherecord.com.

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