18 Facts About Alberta Masiello

Alberta Masiello, was an assistant-conductor and opera coach at the Metropolitan Opera; a panelist in the Saturday afternoon Metropolitan Opera Quiz on the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts, and teacher at the Juilliard School and at Mannes School of Music.

Alberta Masiello's grandfather Giuseppe La Puma, was a Basso buffo opera singer who created the role of Cornelius in the world premiere of Pietro Mascagni's opera Isabeau.

Alberta Masiello's 'La Puma Opera Workshop' in New York was an alternative to the established mainstream opera companies in the city, providing young artists, including Alberta Masiello, with professional opportunities.

Ernest Hutcheson, the president of Juilliard, took an interest in Alberta Masiello and helped her start a career as a pianist.

Alberta Masiello has not yet mastered our language and many times during our visit she called upon her mother for conversational assistance.

In 1934 Alberta Masiello worked as part of a twelve piano ensemble billed as the "twelve Grands" in Radio City music hall.

Alberta Masiello later performed using her married name, Alberta Masiello Bosco.

Between 1944 and 1949 Alberta Masiello sang mezzo-soprano roles in regional companies, including Amneris, Herodias and Azucena and Carmen at the New York City Opera Company and in Fort Worth.

Alberta Masiello retired from the Met in 1981 and continued teaching opera singers, pianists and conductors until her death in 1990.

In 1979 Alberta Masiello received the Award for Professional Excellence from the National Opera Institute.

Alberta Masiello's archive is at the New York Public Library.

Alberta Masiello was instrumental in coaching Maria Callas during a vocal crisis, teaching her daily in her studio at the Juilliard School.

Alberta Masiello did not conduct opera performances, but worked with coaches and pianists at her master classes at the Juilliard School and running the opera department at Mannes.

Alberta Masiello was known to be a chain-smoker of thin brown cigarettes.

Alberta Masiello kept this habit to the end of her life, sitting in a wheelchair giving master classes in her studio, located a block away from the Juilliard School.

Alberta Masiello insisted that all pianists have a fine understanding of the orchestral scores of the opera you were coaching or playing for her that day.

Alberta Masiello was a strict stylist, bandying the vast Zingarelli Italian dictionary to check open and closed vowels, and fighting for clean portamento-free singing.

Alberta Masiello was, a profound inspiration in my career and in so many others.