CDA: Ileana Cotrubas

I just read in The Times about the death of the Romanian soprano Ileana Cotrubas (age 87). She had retired by the time I started going to the opera but I know a bit of her work from recordings and telecasts. Here she is in one of her signature roles, as Mimi in La Bohème.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnQz9pOnU2w&list=RDJnQz9pOnU2w&start_radio=1

She was known for playing fragile, wounded characters. There was something sincere and heartbreaking about her performances. Or so I've heard.

There was a funny story in The Times obit about La Bohème. They were doing it at La Scala and Mirella Freni pulled out of the last performance. Luciano Pavarotti suggested they bring in Cotrubas, who was in London hadn't yet sung at La Scala. She first said no because she hadn't sung the role in over a year - - but she eventually said yes. She showed up 15 minutes before the curtain went up and had done her makeup on the plane!