Farewell to the world-renowned Italian soprano

The world-renowned Italian soprano, Renata Tebaldi, has died at the age of 82. Stricken with polio at the age of three, she was unable to take part in more strenuous activities, and instead became interested in music. The conductor Arturo Toscanini, who discovered her talent, once said she had "the voice of an angel", says ABC News.

The &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/culture/2002/10/16/38207.html ' target=_blank>opera singer died at her home in San Marino, a tiny, independent republic in north-central Italy, after a long illness, said her physician, Dr. Niksa Simetovic.

"Farewell, Renata, your memory and your voice will be etched on my heart forever," tenor Luciano Pavarotti said yesterday, quoted by the ANSA news agency.

In all, Tebaldi made 270 performances at the Met, invited back season after season as one of the opera house's most popular singers. The Met's late general manager Rudolf Bing called her "dimples of iron," a reference to a sweet appearance that belied an iron will.