100 years ago today, Charles Rolls and Frederick Royce incorporated their new automotive venture Rolls-Royce, Ltd. Of Rolls-Royce, soprano Zinka Milanov comes to mind. She was famous for Verdi, especially Aida, which she sang at the Metropolitan Opera seventy-five times. After Birgit Nilsson’s first performance as Aida at the Met, Zinka Milanov climbed into a Rolls-Royce limousine that was waiting for Nilsson. As she step inside, Milanov said:
“If Madame Nilsson takes my roles, I must take her Rolls!”
BTW, for a musical tribute to another great automotive centennial, see entry and link for November 17.
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