The recordings of Claudia Muzio (1889–1936) made for the Italian branch of Columbia are those for which she is most remembered. Recorded in Milan at the end of her illustrious career, these performances vividly capture the voice which the tenor Lauri-Volpi described as ‘made of tears and sighs and restrained inner fire’. Among the works included in this 2-CD set are arias from Verdi’s La traviata, La forza del destino and Otello, Puccini’s La bohème and Tosca, and operas by Bellini, Boito, Cilea, Giordano, Mascagni and Refice. Also featured are Italian songs by Refice, Buzzi-Peccia and Donaudy, and art songs by Delibes, Debussy and Reger. As well as the complete Italian Columbia recordings, this volume also features a live broadcast of Muzio in Act I of Tosca recorded with the San Francisco Opera on the occasion of the opening of the War Memorial Auditorium in 1932.