The next month was to be among the most important in her life. Cerquetti made her first and only commercial recordings, “La Gioconda” featuring Simionato, Del Monaco, Bastianini and Siepi in a well balanced and extremely exciting performance, and her one solo recital for London/Decca , which includes the fabled “O Re dei Cieli”.
Far more important, though, was her marriage to Edo Ferretti just before she appeared at Verona’s Arena in “Norma” with Simionato and Corelli. It was to be a wonderful partnership and Anita was overjoyed to finally find some personal fulfillment.
The rest of the summer was spent at Rome’s Caracalla in “Aida” and “La Forza del Destino”.
Cerquetti was scheduled for a debut at Mexico City in October, but before leaving Italy she appeared with RAI in "La Forza del Destino” and “Oberon”, both preserved on CD. They are superb examples of character drawn in extraordinarily vivid terms. “Oberon” is among her very grandest vocal displays and the author is not the only observer who feels that “Mare, superbo Mare” (Ozean) is the most satisfying recording of the aria ever made.
At Mexico City she triumphed in “Aida” and “Il Trovatore” and was begged to extend her commitment for additonal performances. It was impossible since she was contracted for two performances of “Norma” at Philadelphia, a concert version of “Paride ed Elana” at New York’s Town Hall and a return to Chicago for “Un Ballo in Maschera” and “Don Carlo”.


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