Shirley verrett, world famous mezzosoprano and soprano, was equally at home performing in opera and broadway musicals and on the concert stage. The autobiography of an american singer shirley verrett, christopher brooks on. In the 70s her voice expanded to a larger tessitura including. Shirley verrett accent on the last syllable, verrett was one of americas finest opera stars and recital singers, and was one of the remarkable generation of great africanamerican singers who came to international prominence in the 1950s and 1960s. Shirley verrett was the second of six children born to leon and elvira verrett. Shirley verrett, an acclaimed american mezzosoprano and soprano praised for her blazing intensity during a career that spanned four decades, died friday in ann arbor, mich. Shirley verrett seven popular spanish songs discogs. Shirley verrett seven popular spanish songs 1965, vinyl. She was an actress, known for life is beautiful 1997, macbeth 1987 and great performances at the met 1977. Shirley verrett simple english wikipedia, the free.
According to the article in german wp, she married a james carter in 1951, and temporarily performed under the name shirley verrettcarter, which is i believe not an uncommon practice cfr justin heninhardenne in tennis, or courteney coxarquette in movies. She invited caballe and her husband, tenor bernabe marti, and shirley verret to dinner at her home that very evening. Deceptive cadence the famed singer had it all, according to critics voice, intelligence, musicianship, beauty, stage. Shirley verrett may 31, 1931 november 5, 2010 was an american operatic mezzosoprano. Shirley verrett may 31, 1931 november 5, 2010 was an american operatic mezzosoprano who successfully transitioned into soprano roles, i. Her performances and recordings marked her as one the leading singers in.
Shirley verrett biography, albums, streaming links. Verrett enjoyed great fame from the late 1960s through the 1990s, particularly well known for singing the works of verdi and donizetti. Verdi oberto, il trovatore, don carlo, aidahighlights gala gl 100. Check out this behind the scenes look at bad boys for life read more. Shirley verrett, gluck, donizetti, berlioz, gounod. Albums include macbeth, stravinsky conducts oedipus rex operaoratorio in two acts after sophocles, and luisa miller. Shirley verrett, verrett, shirley 1931 opera singer shirley verrett is an american soprano who performed on the stages of the worlds most famous opera houses. Shirley verrett was born on may 31, 1931 in new orleans, louisiana, usa. Verrett, who was 79, died at her home in ann arbor, mi, after a long illness. Shirley verrett in some of her soprano roles youtube. The platinum collection, greatest hits iii, and barcelona. After that dinner with maria callas at her home, caballe and verrett became friends with her and she graciously advised them on their careers. Opera cds and mp3s of live performances opera depot. Her performances and recordings marked her as one the leading singers in the postmarian anderson generation of african american classical musicians.
Shirley verrett, opera singer of dramatic intensity, is. Find shirley verrett discography, albums and singles on allmusic allmusic. Verrett forged a career of astonishing breadth and depth, one that resists being neatly summarized. With the passing of american mezzo shirley verrett may 31, 1931 nov. Shirley verrett was in a class by herself, a singer that defied the established vocal classifications and was able to excel in both mezzo and soprano repertoire with great success. Music profile for shirley verrett, born 31 may 1931. Shirley verrett was one of americas finest opera stars and recital singers and one of the remarkable generation of great africanamerican singers. Shirley verrett biography, pictures, credits,quotes and more.
Shirley verrett sings vincenzo bellinis norma highlights. For both sets of performances, the chicago symphony chorus was prepared by margaret hillis. Find shirley verrett movies, filmography, bio, co stars, photos, news and tweets. Shirley verrett, opera singer of dramatic intensity, is dead at 79. Download on amazon oh, freedom play on apple music oh, freedom download on itunes oh, freedom play on spotify oh, freedom play on youtube. Verrett is seen in performance excerpts of roles that she made her own, including iphigenie, tosca, dalila and carmen. New york ap shirley verrett, an acclaimed american mezzosoprano and soprano praised for her blazing intensity during a career that spanned four decades, died friday in. Shirley verrett was an internationally renowned opera singer and concert recitalist. Montserrat caballe, shirley verrett great operatic duets. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic. Shirley verrett was an africanamerican operatic mezzosoprano who successfully transitioned into soprano roles, i. Over the past 7 years we have amassed a collection of nearly recordings, available on cd and mp3, of live opera performances featuring great opera singers. This is a list of recordings of the messa da requiem by giuseppe verdi 181901 list. A video biography that follows the black diva throughout a year.
From the beginning, shirley verrett was an artist who unflinchingly and unapologetically went her own way. Shirley verrett is an american soprano who performed on the stages of the worlds most famous opera houses. She was married to louis lomonaco and james carter. Shirley verrett may 31, 1931 november 5, 2010 was an african american opera singer. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Highlights from verretts discography with analysis and discussion by f. The african american opera singer shirley verrett, who has died from heart failure aged 79, overcame both religious opposition and racial discrimination to become one of. More recent roles include singing didon in les troyens 1990. Shirley verrett may 31, 1931 november 5, 2010 was an africanamerican operatic mezzosoprano who successfully transitioned into soprano roles, i. Shirley verrett may 31, 1931 november 5, 2010 was an american operatic mezzosoprano or soprano sfogato. She was one of the first africanamerican artists to have a lifelong, widely acclaimed career as a singer, one that spanned the last half of the 20 th century a native of new orleans, shirley was born on may 31. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from shirley verrett at the discogs marketplace. At the ravinia festival, arroyo appeared with the orchestra in puccinis madama butterfly on july 31 and august 2, 1969, with alain lombard conducting.
This is a discography of scottish recording artist shirley manson, who has performed as the lead singer of american rock band garbage since 1994. She was an actress, known for life is beautiful 1997, macbeth 1987 and cavalleria rusticana 1990. Shirley verrett was born in 1931 to a religious familyone that frowned on a stage career. Shirley verrett persevered, however, and within 10 years she was a star. Then, on march 31, the veteran mezzosoprano shirley verrett sang the role of princess eboli in verdis don carlo and brought down the house with a. Verrett enjoyed great fame from the late 1960s through the 1990s, particularly well known for.