Photo Flashback: Leona Mitchell, Renata Scotto, Virginia Zeani, Tito Capobianco

Power Quartet: Tito Capobianco, Leona Mitchell, Virginia Zeani, and Renata Scotto, post-recital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on February 22, 2014. Details of the evening are after the jump. (Photo: Venetian Arts Society/Facebook)

Tito Capobianco Loses Wife of 55 Years To Illness

Gigi and Tito Capobianco, known as
a famous duo in the opera world.

The opera world has suffered a devastating loss with the death of Gigi Capobianco. The dancer-turned-opera director and choreographer was the wife of legendary Tito Capobianco. Together the two formed the most memorable opera productions in the United States including the "Three Queens" trilogy of Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda and Roberto Devereux featuring soprano Beverly Sills. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut choreographing Massenet's Thaïs in 1978, also featuring Ms. Sills in the title role.

"Piangete Voi...Al dolce guidami...Coppia iniqua"

Donizetti Anna Bolena (Beverly Sills)

"Elena 'Gigi' Capobianco was a prima ballerina in her youth in her native Argentina, but she graciously put herself second to her husband Tito Capobianco's career as an opera director. Yet "Tito y Gigi" was a better description of the couple who worked together on more than 250 opera productions. Her exacting standards gave him feedback whether informally as an assistant or officially as his stage director and choreographer around the world, including his tenure as general director of the Pittsburgh Opera from 1983 to 1998. 'At his productions, she would sit in the back of the theater watching things and they would go home and trade notes,' said her son, Danilo Capobianco. 'Any arguments and disagreements were for the benefit of the product. My Mom saw things as analytical and he from the heart. It was a good combination.' 'She was an unstoppable inspiration who never gave up in her obsession for excellence and beauty,' said Mr. Capobianco. She died Wednesday in Lutz, Fla., of a long-term fight with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She was 77."