Born in Colle di Val d'Elsa, Tarquini studied singing at the Milan Conservatory and privately in Florence. She made her stage debut in 1905 and spent the next two years performing in opera houses throughout Italy.
Between 1908 and 1911 Tarquini performed in operas in Austria, Egypt, Italy, and Portugal. Among the roles she sang were Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly, Maddalena de Coigny in Andrea Chénier, Mimì in La bohème, and the title role in Manon. She drew particular acclaim for her portrayal of the title role in Richard Strauss's Salome and, being a good dancer, was notably one of the first opera singers to perform the Dance of the Seven Veils herself; a move which shocked some conservative critics.
Tarquini remained busy as a performer up until her retirement from the stage in 1917 following her marriage that year to Zandonai. She had an important success at Covent Garden as Bizet's Carmen in 1912 and, besides Conchita, Salome was her most frequently assailed role. After her marriage, she lived most of her remaining life with her husband in Milan. She died in that city at the age of 93. Tarquini's voice was never recorded.
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