Portrait of Zinka Milanov.

The career of the Croatian Zinka Milanov (soprano) is closely connected to the Metropolitan Opera House, in New York. In 1937, she had her debut there playing the role of Leonora in "Il Trovatore," by Verdi. She stayed working there until 1947, when she got married again. Because of her premiére at Met, Zinka had to adopt the last name of her second husband, Milanov, since her real last name, Kunc, wasn't that glamorous for the house and, also, because the patrons were worried of pronouncing mistakes that the public could make -- what could generate some strong words.