Magda Olivero dies, aged 104

9 September 2014, 12:17 | Updated: 2 April 2020, 16:24

Magda Olivero, Italian opera diva and legendary soprano, has died at the age of 104 after suffering a stroke last month.

Born in 1910, she was an early-starter, making her operatic debut in 1932 when she sang an oratorio by Italian composer Nino Cattozzo. Her voice went on to win her a variety of operatic roles until 1941, when she unexpectedly retired from opera to focus on her family and her marriage.

Following persuasion from composer Francesco Cilea, Olivero finally returned to the stage in 1951 and enjoyed a long and varied international opera career, singing at opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

She took to the opera stage for the last time at the age of 71, but she kept performing well into her 90s.

The last known footage of Olivero performing shows her singing at a special reception, aged 99.