Leyla Gencer & Shirley Verrett: Donizetti - Maria Stuarda, ’Figlia impura di Bolena’

Leyla Gencer, or Ayşe Leyla Çeyrekgil (October 10, 1928 -- May 10, 2008) was a world-renowned Turkish operatic soprano. Known as “La Diva Turca“ (The Turkish Diva) and “La Regina“ (The Queen) in the opera world, Gencer was a notable bel canto soprano who spent most of her career in Italy, from the early 1950s through the mid-1980s, and had a repertoire encompassing more than seventy roles. She made very few commercial recordings; however, numerous bootleg recordings of her performances exist. In particular, Gencer was associated with the heroines of Donizetti... & Shirley Verrett (May 31, 1931 -- November 5, 2010) was an African-American operatic mezzo-soprano who successfully transitioned into soprano roles i.e. soprano sfogato. Verrett enjoyed great fame from the late 1960s through the 1990s, particularly well known for singing the works of Verdi and Donizetti...