Rosa Ponselle (January 22, 1897 – May 25, 1981), was an American soprano. She was born Rose Melba Ponzillo on January 22, 1897, in Meriden, Connecticut, the youngest of three children. Her parents were Italian immigrants. Rosa had an exceptionally mature voice at an early age and, at least in her early years, sang on natural endowment with little, if any, vocal training. She sang in movie houses and cafes in Meriden and at church, and she soon became well-known locally for her exceptionally beautiful voice. Vaudeville Rosa's older sister, Carmela, a mezzo-soprano, also had a fine voice and had a career in vaudeville. In 1915, Carmela brought Rosa to audition for her agent. In spite of being very overweight, Rosa impressed with her voice, and she was hired to perform with Carmela as a "sister act." Over the next three years the Ponzillo Sisters (also known as "Those Tailored Italian Girls") beca

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