Women's Portraits

Rina Malatrasi

An 88-year-old woman born in the countryside, in a village on the banks of the River Po, she has one daughter and two grandchildren. Most of her memories are from Venice and Australia; she was an opera singer for 20 years. After the age of 40 she went on to teach bel canto. A serene life is very important for her, she is very satisfied with her life, and for the future she hopes her daughters and grandchildren will be happy. 

Interview

I occasionally remember my childhood, but most of all I like thinking about the great, worldwide success I enjoyed. 

I was born into a farming family. I had eight brothers and sisters. No luxury, rather great economy, but food enough for all, even guests and friends. Our house was very hospitable, so much so that, as far as I can remember, nobody ever locked the door. Especially on special occasions, our door was gently pushed open by many. There was an enormous fireplace, which was continually fuelled when there were visitors. I remember Christmas day, when we all got up early in the morning – around 7 o’clock, because relatives and friends began to arrive around 8 o’clock to wish us a Merry Christmas. If I think about it, I still feel great nostalgia for that extraordinary festive atmosphere, the filled pasta cappelletti were prepared the day before, all lined up on the kitchen tablecloth, waiting to be dropped into the broth. There were hampers of sweets and biscuits. Luck and happiness were very concrete, almost tangible, things – the house, the never empty cupboards, health and especially affection.

I wanted to become a famous soprano, and this is exactly what I became. And a teacher able to help the young and give them the benefit of all my experience, all I have done.

I really enjoyed going to school and I especially loved singing; when I was a child I
always wanted to become an opera singer, but I had to study a long time and a long way away before becoming a soprano. When my family decided I could go and study at the Venice Academy of Music, I was ecstatic, but also a tiny bit nervous and sad. In fact, I was afraid of getting homesick, and I had to get consistently good grades to keep the scholarship I needed to continue my studies. Nevertheless, I never lost my scholarship and in 1946 I was awarded my diploma. Ten out of ten. Immediately afterwards I began to tread the boards, and, as I had always dreamed of doing, going on tour around the world: Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Egypt, etc., etc. And then in Italy, in all Italian theatres. 
Yes, I was able to fulfil my dreams.

For me, family really means everything.
I only had one daughter, who I longed for with all my heart; after 9 months in bed she arrived. I raised her as I was raised, with a great deal of love. And I am satisfied by how I brought her up.

My 40th year coincided with my fairly early withdrawal from the limelight, due to family issues and the circumstances (a problematic pregnancy and the death of my husband). However, I was not going to let it get me down or to give up my lifelong dream – I had to stay connected to singing and the theatre in some way, and I was only able to do this by teaching. Hence, I began to teach at the Rovigo High School of Music and later at Verona Academy of Music, with excellent results in competitions and final shows. I was my own self again and I found teaching very satisfying. I retired at 60, but I carried on teaching my numerous private students with real happiness.

I often find myself thinking about or recounting the years gone by – they are always with me and I remember them not with nostalgia but with a lot of pleasure.

The most difficult time for me coincided with my leaving the stage in February 1963 as well as the death of my husband. My career had ended, I was alone with a three-year-old baby daughter, another stage of my life had concluded, and it was no longer the time when fairy tales come true. The problems were real and I had to solve them. I had to get a license to allow me to teach singing in schools here and there. However, my stubbornness helped me resolve all my financial, and especially psychological, problems, and I was able to face life with serenity and satisfaction.

Nowadays, I don’t have as many students as I used to, but some still come to go over their pieces – opera or piano. Then I’ve got two grandchildren (Francesca, who is 15, and Gabriele, 6) who are the lights of my life; I help them with their homework and I cook lots of treats for them (I’m a very good cook). And I never miss a visit to the theatre – both opera and plays. I’m also vice-president of the cultural magazine “Il Quadrivio”.

I’ve always looked after my appearance and I continue to do so today. As soon as I wake up in the morning I do a little aerobics, I clean and make up my face, and I wear a different outfit every day. On Saturdays I have my hair done and I have beauty treatments every month: massages, waxing and facials etc. etc.

Even at my advanced age I have a strong sense of living for something and for someone – it is so fundamental for living.

Naturally, in the future I have no occupational plans; I have had a lot – instead my plans revolve around my grandchildren.
And, together with my daughter, I have a grand plan: to take her and my grandchildren to Australia, where I got married and was very happy.

I’m happy and grateful for my life, which I can say has been exceptional – I wouldn’t have wanted anything more than my life gave me and still gives me today.

My advice for young people is to be themselves, to have ambitions, to work hard and to do their best to get where they aspire to be. Never give up, always look to the future with serenity and happiness and, why not? even with a lot of sacrifice – only in this way will they fulfil their dreams.

Francesca Malatrasi