Opera Singer. A soprano, she is remembered for singing such diverse roles the title leads of Verdi's "Aida" and Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" at several important venues. Born Janet Lee Cessna, she was raised in the Detroit suburbs, took to music early, and after training was given the name 'Adriana Vanelli' because the managers at Columbia thought she would do better with an Italian name. Befriended by composer Gian Carlo Menotti, she sang the leads in at least three of his pieces, earning praise as the title character of "Juana, La Loca" at Charleston's Spoleto Festival and as Annina from "The Saint of Bleeker Street" in Philadelphia. Adriana sang at the New York City Opera and Carnegie Hall as well as at the 1996 Olympics, made her 1983 San Francisco Opera bow as the lost Violetta from Verdi's "La Traviata", was acclaimed at Stamford as Nedda in Leoncavallo's "I Pagliacci", in Seattle was the unjustly doomed Desdemona from Verdi's "Otello", sang Liu from Puccini's "Turandot" as well as the title lead of Catalani's "La Wally" with the Dutch Opera, and was sought after as the title leads of Puccini's "Tosca" and "Madam Butterfly". Later devoting herself to Christian music, Janet performed under her own name with the Christian Artist's Performing Fellowship and the Asaph Ensemble while appearing a number of times in presentations of Jerome Hines' Biblical opera "I Am the Way". After settling in Springfield, she remained active in Church music.
Opera Singer. A soprano, she is remembered for singing such diverse roles the title leads of Verdi's "Aida" and Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor" at several important venues. Born Janet Lee Cessna, she was raised in the Detroit suburbs, took to music early, and after training was given the name 'Adriana Vanelli' because the managers at Columbia thought she would do better with an Italian name. Befriended by composer Gian Carlo Menotti, she sang the leads in at least three of his pieces, earning praise as the title character of "Juana, La Loca" at Charleston's Spoleto Festival and as Annina from "The Saint of Bleeker Street" in Philadelphia. Adriana sang at the New York City Opera and Carnegie Hall as well as at the 1996 Olympics, made her 1983 San Francisco Opera bow as the lost Violetta from Verdi's "La Traviata", was acclaimed at Stamford as Nedda in Leoncavallo's "I Pagliacci", in Seattle was the unjustly doomed Desdemona from Verdi's "Otello", sang Liu from Puccini's "Turandot" as well as the title lead of Catalani's "La Wally" with the Dutch Opera, and was sought after as the title leads of Puccini's "Tosca" and "Madam Butterfly". Later devoting herself to Christian music, Janet performed under her own name with the Christian Artist's Performing Fellowship and the Asaph Ensemble while appearing a number of times in presentations of Jerome Hines' Biblical opera "I Am the Way". After settling in Springfield, she remained active in Church music.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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