Virginia Zeani, a native of Romania, is considered one of the greatest master class presenters in the world.

She began her training when she was 13 and later studied under famous Russian soprano, Lydia Lipkowska. In 1947, when she was 21, she traveled to Italy to study with veteran tenor Aureliano Pertile. She also studied with Toscanini’s coaches at La Scala. She learned the artistic traditions associated with the science of singing, a style of teaching that is rare today. Foremost among her teachers was Luigi Ricci, who had been a repetiteur for Puccini and Mascagni. She also studied with Narducci, Fornarini, Gennai and Tonini in Milan, as well as with Piazza and Marini.

In 1947, Virginia made her debut at the Teatro Duse in Bologne in their new production of Verdi’s "La Traviata". The role of Verdi’s heroine remained in her repertoire for the rest of her career. She has performed the role 648 times, which may be the record for any soprano in the performing history of "La Traviata".

In 1956, La Scala offered her the role of Cleopatra in Handel’s "Guilio Cesare". In 1957, she appeared as Blanche in La Scala’s world premiere production of Poulenc’s "Dialogues of the Carmelites". She found herself in great demand, making guest appearances in Dublin, Madrid, Mexico City, Zurich, Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro. Virginia made her American debut in 1958 in Handel’s "Guilio Cesare", first in Philadelphia and, weeks later, in New York. She has appeared in the major opera houses of North America, South America, Europe and Africa.

Virginia’s colleagues speak highly of her artistry, integrity and musicianship. She has performed with the most celebrated singers of her time, including Beniamino Gigli, Alfredo Kraus, Mario Del Monaco, Franco Corelli, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Nicola Rossi Lemeni, Renato Bruson, Piero Cappuccilli, Tito Gobbi and Boris Christoff. She has also received high praises from her conductors, including Tulio Serafin, Herbert Von Karajan and Zubin Mehta.

She has had great success as a pedagogue. Sixteen of the finalists in the 1997 Metropolitan Opera competitions were from Ms. Zeani’s studio. Ten students were winners. Others have gone on to win vocal competitions all over the world. She currently on the artist faculty at the Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington.