(This profile is being published on the 50th birthday of the tenor. Happy Birthday!) Throughout the 21st century, Matthew Polenzani has turned into not only one of the finest tenors but one of the greatest singers in the opera world. Born on August 23, 1968, in Evanston Illinois, the American tenor studied at the Eastern Illinois University before earning a {…}
Tenor Peter Hofmann was a rock star. Literally. The tenor, born on August 22, 1944, in Marienbad, German Sudetenland, actually started his musical career as the singer in a rock band. It would prove to be prophetic. He would go on to serve in the West German Armed Forces for seven years. Once he was honorably discharged, he went on {…}
Claude Debussy, born on August 22, 1862, is one of France’s greatest composer. For many, he is the face of the impressionist movement, even though he himself rejected the term. Debussy was not born into wealth or music, but he had the gift as early as the age of 10, entering the Conservatoire de Paris. He studied music there before {…}
Johan Botha, born on August 19, 1965, did not get the chance to live a long life. But he left a major impact on those who heard the South African tenor sing. Born in Rustenburg, the tenor trained with Jarmilla Tellenger between ages 10-17. After serving in the South African Air Force, he continued to study voice. Then things went {…}
Antonio Salieri is one of the most well-known classical composers in pop culture. And yet his music remains rather obscure to almost everyone. Of course, his fame comes from the film “Amadeus” in which Salieri’s rivalry with Mozart comes to the forefront. The Academy Award-winner is undoubtedly a major source of interest for the composer, but that has not translated {…}
Fabio Armiliato is one of the best-loved Italian tenors of the late 20th and early 21st century. Born August 17, 1956, in Genoa, he has had a prominent international career, performing at such houses as the Metropolitan Opera, Vlaamse Opera, San Francisco Opera, La Scala, Monte Carlo, Florence, Opéra de Paris, and the New National Theatre Tokyo. He also frequently {…}
Sharon Sweet was born on August 16, 1951, in New York City. Her father was a tenor who had stopped his career after serving in World War II. She would start her musical studies as a pianist though eventually, she would wind up teaching music in a public school. She would win the Metropolitan Opera auditions and then started studying {…}
Mezzo-soprano Hanna Schwarz, born on August 15, 1943, has had a successful career that hasn’t always seen her in the limelight. She studied psychology and voice in Hamburg, before becoming a member of the Staatsoper Hannover. In a career marked by her interpretations of Wagner, it is surprising to see her first major success come as Maddalena in “Rigoletto.” But {…}
Kathleen Battle was once told that her voice was a gift given to her by God. The soprano would use said gift to turn into one of the great singers at the end of the 20th century. Born on August 13, 1948, in Ohio, she studied at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She actually majored in music education {…}
Tenor Salvatore Licitra was one of the great losses of the 21st century. The tenor, born on August 10, 1968, in Switzerland to Sicilian parents, grew up in Milan. He actually didn’t have any intention of being a singer, reportedly lacking confidence in his vocal abilities. Instead, he started off his career as a graphic artist for Vogue. He would {…}
Maria Guleghina, born on August 9, 1959 in Odessa has had one of the great careers of the late 20th century. The soprano studied at the Music Conservatory in her native city before eventually making a stage debut in 1985 at the State Opera in Minsk. But she had no intention of staying in the Soviet Union and would make {…}