Violetta Villas, the larger-than-life singer with a voice that spans four octaves will appear for the last time on stage on Valentine’s Day, when she is also to be awarded the Gloria Artis medal for contribution to Polish culture.

The fifty-year-long career of Violetta Villas (born Élise Cieślak) began in the 1960s. Also famous for her trademark cascade of blonde hair, enormous eyes and ball gowns in the style of Hollywood divas, she sang popular melodies as well as opera and operetta.

Violetta was born in Belgium in 1938, and came to Poland in 1948, making her home the town of Lewin Kłodzki in Lower Silesia. She was educated in music in Wrocław and Szczecin.

From Polish stages she went on to star in Paris and Las Vegas, where she would sing a repertoire in nine languages. She also starred in films beside Glenn Ford and Lee Marvin. Back in Poland she also became known for her struggle in support of abandoned animals. (ek)