Soprano Gilda Cruz-Romo is one of the great Mexican opera singers to enjoy an international career.

Born on Feb. 12, 1940, Cruz-Romo would study at the Mexico City Conservatory before making her debut at in Mexico City in 1962. Seven years later she appeared at the New York City, which would lead directly to a Met debut a year later. She would enjoy 168 performances in leading roles with the company, her final performance coming in 1984.

Her Vienna State Opera and La Scala debuts came in 1973, a year after her debut in London at the Royal Opera House; she performed “Aida” in her debuts in London and Milan.

Signature Roles

The soprano was renowned for her work in the Italian repertory, particularly in the operas of Verdi and Puccini. With the exception of performances of “Andrea Chénier,” “Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci,” which totaled six showcases, every other one of her 155 Met Opera performances was in either a Verdi or Puccini opera. At the Met, she performed the role of “Aida” 27 times while she appeared as “Madama Butterfly” another 31 times.

Her major debuts around the world came in operas by those major composers.

Watch and Listen

Here is an album of Verdi arias.

And here she is in recital.