Graciela Rivera year she made her operatic debut as Rosina in "The Barber of Seville" by Gioachino Rossini at the New Orleans Opera. In December 1951, she became the first Puerto Rican to sing a lead role at the New York Metropolitan Opera as Lucia in the production of Lucia di Lammermoor. She earned accolades for her performance from critics around the world. In 1953, Rivera was proclaimed "Citizen of the Year" by the City of New York. In 1954 Rivera was featured as a guest singer in Name That Tune, and later that year, at an instance of Your Show of
Conservatorio Statale di Musica "Gioachino Rossini" as well as the autograph scores of his "Petite messe solennelle" and six operas, most of which he composed for the Teatro San Carlo in Naples: "Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra", "Otello", "Armida", "La donna del lago", "Maometto II", and "Adina". A large bronze statue of Rossini by Carlo Marochetti is situated in the building's main internal courtyard. This list includes both graduates and musicians who are known to have studied for a time at the conservatory. Conservatorio Statale di Musica "Gioachino Rossini" The Conservatorio Statale di Musica "Gioachino Rossini" is a music conservatory in Pesaro, Italy. Founded in 1869 with a