Portrait of the singer Teresa Stolz

Teresa Stolz was Verdi’s favourite performer, and in her artistic prime. She performed regularly at La Scala between 1865 and 1877. The role of Leonora in the second version of La Forza del Destino was
created for her. She performed in the première of the 4 act version of Don Carlos. She was the first to play Aida in Italy (8th February 1872) and perform in the Requiem (2nd May 1874), both at La Scala,
and was present at all the European performances of that great sacred work under the direction of Verdi himself.