Aprile Millo

Aprile Millo (born April 14, 1958) is an American operatic soprano of Italian and Irish ancestry who is particularly admired for her interpretations of the works of Giuseppe Verdi. Possessing a spinto voice of power, warmth and temperament, Millo became one of the most celebrated opera singers of the late twentieth century. Although she has performed at many of the world's leading opera houses and with many orchestras and ensembles internationally, Millo has spent much of her career appearing in productions at the Metropolitan Opera.

Aprile Millo was born in New York City, the daughter of two opera singers, tenor Giovanni Millo (John Hamill) and soprano Margherita Girosi. Millo became interested in music at an early age and received her musical education primarily from her parents. After graduating from Hollywood High School in 1976 she was invited to join the San Diego Opera Center as an apprentice, where she took part in the inaugural program and where as a member she sang the High Priestess in Aida. In several European trips she was to win several important singing competitions including first prize in the Concorso Internazionale di Voci Verdiane in Busseto, Italy (1978), the Montserrat Caballé Bernabe Marti Special Verdi Prize Award in Barcelona (1979), and the Geraldine Farrar Award (1980).

After leaving the San Diego Opera, Millo sang her first major role, the title role of Verdi's Aida, with Utah Opera in January 1980. She returned to Utah Opera in early 1981 to perform the role of Santuzza in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana. Millo moved to New York City and auditioned for the New York City Opera where her Father had sung from 1942–1946 and was offered a contract with several roles. The Metropolitan Opera also offered the young singer at 22 years old, to become a member of the Met's Young Artist Program, as well as to cover leading roles. Up until this point, Millo had studied voice exclusively with her parents. While in the Met's program she worked with Dick Marzollo and then only with David Stivender and Rita Patanè. She also had the opportunity to work with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf who took her to Herbert von Karajan, and with mentors Renata Tebaldi, Zinka Milanov and Licia Albanese.

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