The menfolk of the world worshipped Cavalieri’s beauty, blazoned all over the place by photographers. Her visage adorned hundreds of magazine covers and postcards in hundreds of stores all over Europe. Opera cognoscenti beguiled by her charming aspect and daring histrionics readily pardoned her vocal shortcomings and flocked to see her perform.

It is hard to say in all certainty what ensured Lina Cavalieri her place in history, whether it was her fabled beauty or her dramatic talent. Most likely of all it was a special sort of charisma together with a good measure of ambition and perseverance. Before the age of twenty she had already been touring all over Europe, rounding up an extensive following in spite of her limited vocal capacity.

The menfolk of the world worshipped Cavalieri’s beauty, blazoned all over the place by photographers. Her visage adorned hundreds of magazine covers and postcards in hundreds of stores all over Europe. Opera cognoscenti beguiled by her charming aspect and daring histrionics readily pardoned her vocal shortcomings and flocked to see her perform. What with her immense popularity she also led such an active social life that it makes one wonder how she managed so many things at once.