Few mezzo-sopranos have successfully made the transition to becoming top sopranos. Grace Bumbry managed that. She was also a major figure in helping black singers find their rightful place on the opera stage in an era where segregation ran rampant. Born on Jan. 4, 1937, the mezzo was born in St. Louis and won a local radio competition at age {…}
Born on Dec. 30, 1952, soprano June Anderson was the first non-Italian opera star to take home the famed Bellini d’Oro prize. Born in Boston and raised in Wallingford, Connecticut, she began vocal studies at age 11 and wound up becoming a finalist of the Met Opera auditions at the age of 17. A Yale graduate in French, she went {…}
Francesco Tamagno was born on Dec. 28, 1850, and would go on to become the first singer to perform the title role in Verdi’s “Otello.” He began taking vocal lessons in his youth and was a chorister. In 1873, he began training vocally in earnest and started performing small roles in the local Teatro Regio di Torino. But on Jan. {…}
There were many controversial aspects about the life of tenor Tito Schipa. But there will never be any doubt that he was a great tenor. Born on Dec. 27, 1888, he studied in Milan and made his opera debut in Vercelli at the age of 21. From there he started performing throughout his native Italy and Buenos Aires. He also {…}
When it comes to the bel canto repertoire, Edita Gruberova is one of the most beloved interpreters of the 20th century. Born on Dec. 23, 1946, the Slovak soprano would become known for her incredible vocal range and her technical precision in the bel canto repertory. She studied at the Bratislava Conservatory followed by the Academy of Performing Arts in {…}
Puccini is undeniably one of those names that will forever be linked with opera. Born on Dec. 22, 1858 (his full name was Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini) in Lucca, Italy, he was set to occupy the position of maestro di cappella after his father’s death. However, he was only six-years-old and unable to occupy the position his {…}
Fernando Corena, born on Dec. 22, 1916, was a famed bass of his time. Born in Geneva, he studied Theology at Fribourg University with the intention of becoming a priest. However, he won a vocal contest and started working toward a career as a singer. At the suggestion of conductor Vittorio Giu, he went to Milan to complete his vocal {…}
William Christie and the word “Baroque” are synonymous in the classical music world. Born on Dec. 19, 1944 in Buffalo, New York, Christie started off his career as an art history major at Harvard University where he was briefly an assistant conductor of the Harvard Glee Club. In 1966, he started studied music at Yale University. From there he taught {…}
Ludwig Van Beethoven. That name alone already creates different emotional reactions in everyone. Baptized on Dec. 17, 1770, the composer would go on to be not only one of the icons of classical music but of all art in history. Alongside Mozart and Bach, Beethoven remains one of the household names and his music has transcended time. A pupil of {…}
James McCracken was one of the most essential American dramatic tenors of all time. Born on Dec. 16, 1926, McCracken started his musical experiences as a child in a church choir. During the Second World War, he sang in the Blue Jacket Choir in the U.S. Navy. His professional debut came at the Central City Opera in 1952 as Rodolfo {…}
(Credit: Ruth Walz / Salzburg Festival) Based on the play by George Büchner, Alban Berg’s “Wozzeck” is widely considered one of the great operas of all-time. He conceived of it in 1914 and would eventually finish in 1922. It would receive its world premiere on Dec. 14, 1925. He adapted the libretto himself, creating a work that features numerous shorter {…}