Her actual operatic debut took place in San Francisco in 1957, as Mme Lidoine in Poulenc's "Le dialogue des carmélites", followed by her first "Aida". The role of Aida would quickly become her signature role and the vehicle for her debuts in 1958 at the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House in London and at La Scala in Milan both in 1960. She also appeared at the Salzburg Festival as Donna Elvira in "Don Giovanni" and Leonora in "Il trovatore".