On the 5th she repeated the role at Naples, to another demonstration tinged with political heroics, and completed the run at Rome on the 8th and the 11th.
The name, Anita Cerquetti, had appeared on the front page of newspapers throughout the World and would stay there at intervals until the story had played itself out in the courts.
On 21 February, Anita joined Simionato, Corelli and Modesti in a hugely praised revival of “Norma” at Palermo and then she took a long rest. La Scala had offered her a debut and Anita wanted to be properly rested and fully prepared for this final conquest.
On 1 June before a house sold beyond its capacity, Cerquetti sang the role of Abigaille in “Nabucco”. Poggi, Bastianini, Nicola Zaccaria and Simionato were very well received, but it was Anita who stole the evening. Stomping, cheering ovations with showers of roses came from every corner of the theater. She repeated the role four times before retreating to her family villa for a long vacation.
Little did she know that it was to be her last important engagement in Italy, and one of the last anywhere.
In August, she sang in Aida at the small town of Fermo, and then she and Edo traveled to Mexico City for performances of “Aida” and “La Forza del Destino”. “Hail the conquering heroine” was one critic’s assessment.
Philadelphia audiences were overwhelmed by her “Trovatore” Leonora in late October, and the audience at Barcelona tried to outdo its previous welcome when she returned to the Liceo for “Norma” in December.