Early in her career, she was limited to minor roles while on contract at La Scala. When she asked the director to cast her in a major role, he refused, and she left La Scala and went out on her own. Soon she was in demand at other opera houses. In 1947, La Scala asked her to return to sing the title role in "Mignon" by
Ambroise Thomas. This was her breakthrough performance, and La Scala never stopped calling.