Opera biography stubs

Florence Gillam Birdwell (September 3, 1924 – February 15, 2021), sometimes referred to as Flo Birdwell, was an American educator, musician, and singer. She taught musical theater and opera singing for more than six decades. She served as a professor of voice at the Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University from 1946 to 2013, and afterwards periodically teaching master classes as a professor emerita.
In 2024, the National Association of Teachers of Singers honored Birdwell's career and contributions by naming the first prize of its annual National Musical Theatre Competition "The Florence Birdwell Award." The competition, held in New York City and featuring O'Hara as honorary host, took place on Jan. 8, 2024.

Carlo Maria Badini (2 June 1925, in Bologna – 19 April 2007, in Bologna) was a renowned Italian arts administrator. From 1964 to 1977 he was the Sovrintendente or General Manager of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna and from 1977 through 1990 he was the Sovrintendente of La Scala. Badini created controversy as a result of the unorthodox methods he used to revitalize La Scala's finances, which had reportedly reached a 2.8 million dollar (US) deficit, such as the introduction of television cameras to record performances and allowing advertisements on the programmes. These innovations allowed the opera house to emerge from the deficit within two years of their implementation. Upon his 1990 departure from La Scala, Badini continued work in the Italian artistic community, becoming chairman of the National Theatre Organization in Italy and co-founding the Mozart Orchestra in Bologna, which he formed alongside former La Scala music director Claudio Abbado.

Luigi Illica (9 May 1857 – 16 December 1919) was an Italian librettist who wrote for Giacomo Puccini (usually with Giuseppe Giacosa), Pietro Mascagni, Alfredo Catalani, Umberto Giordano, Baron Alberto Franchetti and other important Italian composers. His most famous opera libretti are those for La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Andrea Chénier.

Illica was born at Castell'Arquato. His personal life sometimes imitated his libretti. The reason he is always photographed with his head slightly turned is because he lost his right ear in a duel over a woman. When silent films based on Illica's operas were made, his name appeared in large letters on advertisements because distributors could only guarantee that his stories would be used, and not that they would be accompanied by the music of the appropriate composer.
As a playwright of considerable quality, he is today remembered through one of Italy's oldest awards, the Luigi Illica International Prize founded in 1961, which goes to world famous opera singers, opera conductors, directors and authors. The prize is now awarded every two years and alternates with the Illica Opera Stage International Competition, which offers prizes and debut opportunities to young singers.

Giuseppe Adami (4 February 1878 – 12 October 1946) was an Italian librettist, playwright and music critic, he was best known for his collaboration with Giacomo Puccini on the operas La rondine (1917), Il tabarro (1918) and Turandot (1926).