Zinka Milanov

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Zinka Milanov

Zinka Milanov née Zinka Kunc (May 17, 1906 - May 30, 1989) was a Croatian-born operatic dramatic soprano.

Born in Zagreb, she studied with the Wagnerian soprano Milka Ternina and her assistant Marija Kostrenčić. She also studied in Milan with Campi and in Vienna with Stickgolt. On October 29, 1927, she made her operatic debut as Leonora in Giuseppe Verdi's Il Trovatore in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Her debut in her native Croatia, at the National Theatre in Zagreb, took place five weeks later as Marguerite in Charles Gounod's Faust

After an early debut in Dresden (November 5, 1928, also as Leonora), her great teacher, Milka Ternina was not pleased and much work commenced to perfect her technique. She performed in Zagreb and Ljubljana almost exclusively for the next six years. Later she became a member of the New German Theater in Prague, where all performances were sung in German. She was discovered by Bruno Walter, who recommended her to the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini for a performance of Verdi's Requiem in Salzburg. In 1937, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, once again as Leonora. At that time she adopted the name Milanov, which was the stage name of her second husband, an actor. According to Milanov herself, "Kunc" wasn't "glamorous" enough for the Metropolitan Opera.

In fact, it was felt that "Kunc" bore too strong a resemblance to an English obscene word. In the article titled "Zinka Takes Off" in the November 2004 issue of Opera News, a slightly different account of the name change is given:

"Because her name, under either spelling, was still deemed unacceptable, the request for an alternative was reiterated. A relieved Simon cabled Ziegler on November 5: 'Mme Zinka KUNZ-MARCOVIC´ has informed me that she wishes to perform under her husband’s stage name, MILANOV. Initially, the artist hemmed and hawed about changing the name under which, up to now, she made her European career. Frankly, I couldn’t bring myself to unequivocally spell out for her its English meaning.'"

In 1947, Milanov left the Met when she married, for the third time, Yugoslav general and diplomat Ljubomir Ilic, and returned to live in her native country for several years.

She was at the peak of her artistic and vocal powers when she made her debut at the Teatro alla Scala as Tosca in 1950. When Rudolf Bing took over the Metropolitan Opera that very same year, Milanov returned and was hailed as a primadonna assoluta.

Milanov had a beautiful, clear voice, especially in the upper register, and sang with splendid legato. Vocally, she didn't come into her own until she was in her forties. In her younger years, her voice tended to become shrill. She excelled in the Italian parts for dramatic soprano and is best remembered for her Verdi interpretations (Aida, Amelia, Leonora).

She gave her final performance in 1966. After her farewell, Milanov remained active as a teacher.

She died in New York.

[edit] Relationship with Tito

Zinka reportedly shared a romantic relationship with Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito.[1] She was in her mid 40s, while he was over 60 when they started the affair.

Arranging their relationship was an exercise in shuttle diplomacy. Tito's close confidante Ivan Stevo Krajačić was the matchmaker. After Marshal rejected young Jovanka Budisavljević for being, as he put it, "too wild" (only to marry her after the affair with Zinka ended), Stevo suggested a more mature Zinka. Tito agreed, sending him on his way to give her the news. Stevo also gave her a business card and one day to make a decision.

Zinka had huge reservations about marrying someone she barely knew, but probably also recognized potential advantages of a marital union with such powerful man, so she wrote Stevo a letter outlining her "terms". She wanted to get to know Tito better and hopefully grow close before marriage, and if such an outcome was to occur she wanted full freedom to continue performing around the world.

Tito responded with request for a personal meeting and arranged for her to be brought to Belgrade where they had dinner. Next day, while taking a walk together, he agreed to her proposal for a getting-to-know-you-better period and promised not to hinder her career, but also wanted her to leave Zagreb and move in with him in Belgrade to which she agreed.

Unfortunatelly, the marriage wasn't to be as she never got used to living in Beli dvor where an army of servants took care of her significant other's food and appearance. By the end of their relationship, they communicated through personal aides. There are anecdotes of Tito even announcing plans for that night's sex in a written communiqué sent to Zinka, only to get one back informing him she has her period.

Not surprisingly, they soon parted ways.