Soprano Renata Scotto dies aged 89

(corrects first line to clarify that Scotto died in New York) (ANSA) - ROME, AUG 16 - Italian soprano and opera director Renata Scotto has died at her home in New York aged 89, Savona Mayor Marco Russo announced on Wednesday.
    "A unique singer, a great musician, a great artist, a great woman has died," said Russo on social media.
    "A great woman of Savona: cultured, refined, generous, simple," he added.
    Born in Savona in 1934, Scotto studied in Milan and made her stage debut at Savona's Teatro Chiabrera in La Traviata in 1952.
    During her long and distinguished career she performed at many of the world's most prestigious opera theatres, including La Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera House in London and the Metropolitan in New York, where she also directed Puccini's Madama Butterfly in 1986.
    In 2020 she brought her talent back to her home city, where she directed Verdi's La Traviata, also at the Teatro Chiabrera.
    "I am heartbroken," said Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, describing Scotto as "one of the greatest opera singers of all time".
    She was, he said, "a teacher dedicated to young singers and for me personally one of the most assiduous partners on stage with more than a hundred performances together" but "above all, a very dear friend". (ANSA).