Joanne Natale Spigonardo
August 31, 2025
In the 15th Century, Florence was the hub of the Renaissance, with many painters, poets, musicians, and intellectuals. Opera began there and was a means for the general public to express themselves in forms of dramatic songs that often depicted Greek Tragedies. If you close your eyes and imagine yourself in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria, you can almost see and hear early tenors and sopranos in their full dramatic roles, and performing Jacopo Peri’s Dafne.
My first experience to opera was when I was a teenager and I would listen to the classical music my Mother would play on the radio. My Mother loved Enrico Caruso’s rendition of Mattinata composed by Ruggerio Leoncavallo. She told me it reminded her of beautiful summer mornings in Italy and of being young and in love. I continued listening every Sunday when she played the radio. My favorite opera during that time was La Triviata by Giuseppe Verde.
La Traviata was first performed in 1853 at the La Fenice Opera House in Venice. The play features a French courtesan who is dying a lonely death by consumption. The opera is based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas called The Lady of the Camellias. The 1936 film Camille staring Greta Garbo is also based on the same novel.
For many years I had a subscription to the Opera Company of Philadelphia. I had the good fortune to enjoy many fabulous Italian Operas, for example Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Puccini’s La Boehme, Madama Butterfly, as well as Turandot. In addition to many more Verdi operas, Aida, Il Trovatore, Un Ballo in Maschera, and many others.
Opera has become part of major motion pictures. La Boehme was featured as the romantic date between Loretta and Ronnie in Moonstruck. La Traviata was also featured as the romantic date between Vivian and Edward in Pretty Woman. Let’s not forget the countless times that the Barber of Seville’s overture is played as background music in classic cartoons. Opera is timeless and speaks about every man and woman. It is the voice of love.
One of my most poignant memories is when I met Luciano Pavarotti. At the time I was working for Alitalia Airlines. Alitalia was one of the sponsors of the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition which was held at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia for many years. Alitalia was granted tickets to the event. I was seated right behind Pavarotti as he was judging the sopranos in the competition. At the time I was about eight months pregnant, and Pavarotti turned to me and greeted me and noted that I had a reason to be rotund but he had no reason. We had a good laugh. You could tell that he was a joyful person.
I enjoyed Pavarotti’s performance in Rigoletto a few years before he passed, and will never forget our chance meeting. In my opinion, the best performance of Pavarotti’s life was in Turnadot where he sings Nessun Dorma and his high note singing Vincero, it’s the emotional and powerful song about a man going into a life and death battle for his love. Pavarotti was a true winner, he was a master of opera and his talent will always remain with us.
Italian opera speaks to the heart, the songs and the stories come from the soul. Italian opera epitomizes who Italians are, dramatic dreamers, creative thinkers, lovers of art and music.
About the Author
Joanne Natale Spigonardo
Joanne Natale Spigonardo has many years of experience in travel to Italy, Italian art, music, literature, film, history, wine, and cuisine. She is a lover of nature and beauty. She is an advocate for Italian immigrant women, and the author of White Widow, which is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/White-Widow-Joanne-Natale-Spigonardo/dp/B085DT65DB. For more information about Joanne please visit her LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-spigonardo-b4824a9/.
Hidden Treasures of Italy 