Cigna was born in Angers, department of Maine-et-Loire, to parents of Italian origin.

She trained as a
pianist at the Paris Conservatory studying with Alfred Cortot and graduated with a gold medal. She then
started a career as a recitalist. She met French tenor Maurice Sens, whom she married in 1923, and
following his advice turned to singing. She took private lessons with Emma Calv, Hariclea Darcle and
Rosina Storchio, but was mostly self-taught. She made her debut as Ginette Sens in 1927 at the Teatro alla
Scala, in Milan, as Freia in Das Rheingold, without much success.

Two years later, still at La Scala, but this time under the name Gina Cigna, she sang the role of Donna Elvira
in Don Giovanni, and this time it was a triumph. A few weeks later she appeared as Elisabeth in Tannhuser.
She was to sing regularly at La Scala until 1945, quickly establishing herself as one of the leading Italian
dramatic soprano alongside Maria Caniglia in operas such as Il Trovatore, Un ballo in maschera, La forza del
destino, Aida, Andrea Chnier, and Tosca.

She recorded Norma in 1937 and Turandot, opposite Francesco Merli, with Magda Olivero as Li, in 1938,
both for Cetra Records. She sang at the Paris Opra, the Royal Opera House in London, the Lyric Opera of
Chicago, the San Francisco Opera, and the New York Metropolitan Opera, where she made her debut on 6
February 1937 as Aida.

Cigna's career came to a halt in 1948 when she was involved in a serious car accident and suffered a heart
attack. Forced to retire from singing, she turned to teaching. In 1996 at the age of 96 she appeared in Jan
Schmidt-Garre's film Opera Fanatic.