Bel Canto mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne is one of the great champions of Rossini’s operas. She was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania on January 16, 1934. She moved to California in her childhood, and went on to study at the University of Southern California, as well as with Lotte Lehmann. In her own words, “I grew up in Hollywood.” Horne was a {…}
The story of soprano Katia Ricciarelli is one of rags to riches. Born on Jan. 16, 1946, the Italian soprano grew up with a poor family, working during her time as a student at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice. Upon graduation, she kickstarted her career as Mimì in “La Bohème” in Mantua and from there she had a major {…}
Spanish soprano Pilar Lorengar was born on Jan. 15, 1928 in Zaragoza, Spain. Per The Independent, she “had one of the most beautiful voices heard in the post-war years. Creamy-toned and perfectly placed, her voice remained firm and youthful in timbre for more than 30 years.” From an early age, she was involved in performance, appearing on the radio program {…}
Born on Jan. 14, 1925, Canadian baritone Louis Quilico would go on to a strong career as an interpreter of French and Italian operas. He studied music from an early age and won a prize in 1947. From there he headed over to Rome to continue his musical studies and then he went and studied at the Mannes College in {…}
Ben Heppner was one of the great heldentenors of his time. Born on Jan. 14, 1956 in Canada, he studied at the University of British Colombia and was already known internationally by the time he was 23 when he won the top prize at the Canadian Broadcasting Company Radio Competition for young performers. He then headed to Toronto and studied {…}
Renato Bruson, born on Jan. 13, 1936, was born near Padua, Italy and would go on to become one of the great Italian baritones of the late 20th century. He studied music at the conservatory of Padua but did not enjoy much support from his family. Bruson himself once noted that his family thought he wanted to be a musician {…}
Bass-Baritone James Morris is one of the great American singers of the late 20th century. Born on Jan. 10, 1947, Morris studied with Rosa Ponselle at the Peabody Conservatory and then attended the Academy of Vocal Arts and University of Maryland. He made his debut with the Baltimore Opera in 1967 and then appeared with the Metropolitan Opera for the {…}
Baritone Sherrill Milnes was the Verdi Baritone of his time. Born on Jan. 10, 1935 in Downers Grove, Illinois, Milnes played a plethora of instruments throughout his youth. He had intentions of becoming an anesthesiologist but then sought out music as a career. After graduation from Drake University, he became an apprentice at the Santa Fe Opera and studied briefly {…}
Waltraud Meier, born on Jan. 9, 1956, would become one of the most successful German artists of the late 20th century and beyond. Meier was born in Würzberg and sang in choral groups throughout her youth. Despite starting her graduate studies in English and Romance languages, in 1976, she shifted her focus to singing and made her debut at the {…}
Soprano Herva Nelli is most known to American audiences through Arturo Toscanini’s NBC opera broadcasts. Born in Florence on 9th January 1909, Nelli and her family emigrated to Pittsburgh when she was 10-years-old. Aged 17, she took a job as a glass cutter to pay for her singing lesson and later studied at the Pittsburgh Music Institute and in New {…}
American-born Giorgio Tozzi was actually born George John Tozzi on Jan. 8, 1923. He originally planned on studying biology when he entered DePaul University, though he eventually wound up in military service during World War II. After that, he resumed a singing career. He would make his professional debut in the Broadway production of “The Rape of Lucretia” in 1948. {…}