At the tender age of 96, Magda Olivero was able to still honor the Blessed Virgin with a pitch-perfect Ave Maria.
The Italian verismo soprano sang a heartfeltAve Maria by Leoncavallo and Franck’s Panis Angelicus in a Catholic church in Italy. In fact, every year the former opera singer would lend her talents to the Church of Sulden, or the Parrocchia di Solda on August 15, the country’s national holiday.
Despite her great age, Olivero retained the sense of drama, clarity, and beautiful tones for which she is known. As Classic FM shared, over half a century ago, a critic wrote: “Hers is an astonishing talent [with] an intensity, both musical and dramatic, which was quite extraordinary.”
The singer started out in the 1930s, and gave her last performance at the incredible age of 99, in 2009. For over seven decades, Olivero was able to share her God-given talent, before dying in 2014, at the age of 104.
While the video was only discovered in recent times, it’s an important reminder that advanced age does not have to define or limit us. And even after her death, Olivero continues to inspire us all to live our passions and use our talents to the fullest.
And today we celebrate...