Catiuscia Maria Stella Ricciarelli (born 16 January 1946), known as Katia Ricciarelli, is an Italian soprano and actress. Born in Rovigo, Veneto, to a very poor family, she struggled during her younger years. She studied at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice, won several vocal competitions in 1968, and made her professional debut as Mimì in Puccini's La bohème in Mantua in 1969. She appeared as Leonora in Verdi's Il trovatore in Parma in 1970. In the following year, she won RAI's "Vo ...