On 6 September she debuted in opera at Spoleto in the dual roles of Aida and the Priestess. She was praised for her “limpid tone, powerful voice, and the perfection of her intonation and diction”. Still, nothing extraordinary happened. It was not until the following July that Cerquetti reappeared on the stage when the Teatro Nuovo of Milano presented her in two performances of “Il Trovatore”. She was recognized by several important Italian musicologists, and on 25 August she appeared at Recanati with Beniamino Gigli in a concert. Her selections were “Vissi d’arte” and “O terra addio” and a week later she appeared with the great tenor at Macerata’s Arena Sferisterio. Again she chose a selection from “Aida”, “O cieli azzurri” and “Ah forse lui” from Traviata. The chronology specifically notes that she did not attempt the hazards of “Sempre Libera”.
The program was repeated on 6 September at Porto Civitanova and on the 15th, she again joined Gigli at Osimo.
As in the past, there was no follow up to these few engagements and Anita waited, rather impatiently, it has been said, for further offers.
Time was standing still for Cerquetti and she desperately desired to make her own mark.
Sadly, for Anita, the foundations of that incredible legacy would not be realized for several more years, and the light that glowed so brightly would last for only a very few more.


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