Milka Stojanović (Serbian Cyrillic: Милка Стојановић; 26 October 1887 – 24 May 1947) was a Serbian operatic soprano.
Stojanović was born in Belgrade, Serbia, on 26 October 1887. She studied singing at the Belgrade Conservatory of Music, and later in Milan, Italy. She made her operatic debut in 1910 at the National Theatre in Belgrade, as Leonora in Verdi’s Il trovatore.
Stojanović went on to have a successful career in opera, performing at major opera houses throughout Europe, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in London, the Vienna State Opera, and the Paris Opera. She was particularly renowned for her interpretations of the roles of Aida in Verdi’s Aida, Tosca in Puccini’s Tosca, and Madama Butterfly in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.
In addition to her operatic career, Stojanović also performed in concerts and recitals. She was a noted interpreter of Serbian folk songs, and she also performed works by contemporary composers, such as Stravinsky and Prokofiev.
Stojanović died in Belgrade on 24 May 1947. She is considered one of the greatest Serbian opera singers of all time.
In 2017, the Serbian government issued a postage stamp in her honor.
