Loretta Di Franco, 1942–2024

The Metropolitan Opera mourns the death of soprano Loretta Di Franco, a beloved member of our company for more than 60 years. Loretta began in the Met Chorus in 1960 and made her first appearance as a soloist as a Page in Tannhäuser in 1961. Still in the chorus, she won the Met National Council Auditions in 1965 and began a long career as a principal artist that lasted until her retirement in 1995. In all, she sang 57 roles and an astounding 929 performances, a count surpassed by only two other women singers in Met history. While she mostly appeared in supporting roles, she occasionally sang principal characters such as Musetta in La Bohème, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, and one performance as Mimì in La Bohème. After her singing career, Loretta returned as the Italian diction coach on the Met’s music staff. In addition to her reputation as a valuable artist, she was genuinely loved as a kind, generous colleague, supportive friend, and gracious presence. She is already sorely missed, and the company offers sincerest condolences to her daughter, Lavinia, and all her family and many friends.