Aprile Millo Special Verdi Prize Award in Barcelona (1979), and the Geraldine Farrar Award (1980). After leaving the San Diego Opera, Millo sang her first major role, the title role of Verdi's "Aida", with Utah Opera in January 1980. She returned to Utah Opera in early 1981 to perform the role of Santuzza in Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana". Millo moved to New York City and auditioned for the New York City Opera where her Father had sung from 1942–1946 and was offered a contract with several roles. The Metropolitan Opera also offered the young singer at 22 years old, to become a member
Cavalleria rusticana was as the theme for a regular radio broadcast, "Symphony of the Rockies," which featured "a small string group playing light classical music" in the 1930s and 1940s over Denver radio station KOA, then owned and operated by the NBC network. It "was a 'feed' to the entire network from the KOA studios." Apart from video recordings of live performances, there have been several cinematic versions of "Cavalleria rusticana", the most notable of which are: The opera's symphonic Intermezzo has figured in the sound track of several films, most notably in the opening of "Raging Bull" and in the finale