Marilyn Horne sings Carmen (vaimusic.com) Marilyn Horne. Marilyn Horne (born January 16, 1934) is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer. She specialized in roles requiring a large sound, beauty of tone, excellent breath support, and the ability to execute difficult coloratura passages. Biography[edit] Horne was born in Bradford, Pennsylvania, but moved with her parents to Long Beach, California, when she was 11. At the age of 13, she became part of the newly formed Los Angeles Concert Youth Chorus. She studied voice under William Vennard at the University of Southern California School of Music and participated in Lotte Lehmann's vocal master classes.[1] Career[edit] Her first major breakthrough came when her singing ability was recognized by Igor Stravinsky; her operatic career began when he invited her to perform in the 1956 Venice festival.
She was highly acclaimed for her performance as Marie in Alban Berg's Wozzeck at the inauguration of Gelsenkirchen's new opera house on May 22, 1960. Horne received many honors during her career. Montserrat Caballe, Marilyn Horne fantastic "Semiramide" duet. Joan Sutherland - Marilyn Horne - "Barcarole" Caballé, Horne - Barcarolle. Maria CALLAS sings Carmen HABANERA in covent garden. Habanera (aria) Habanera Text and Translation - The English Translation of Habanera from Bizet's Carmen. Georges Bizet - Habanera Lyrics. Grace Bumbry. Grace Bumbry (born January 4, 1937), an American opera singer, is considered one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation, as well as a major soprano for many years.
She was a member of a pioneering generation of singers who followed Marian Anderson (including Leontyne Price, Martina Arroyo, Shirley Verrett and Reri Grist) in the world of classical music and paved the way for future African-American opera and classical singers. Bumbry's voice was rich and sizable, possessing a wide range, and was capable of producing a very distinctive plangent tone. In her prime, she also possessed good agility and bel canto technique (see for example her renditions of the 'Veil Song' from Verdi's Don Carlo in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as her Ernani from the Chicago Lyric Opera in 1984). She was particularly noted for her fiery temperament and dramatic intensity on stage. More recently, she has also become known as a recitalist and interpreter of lieder, and as a teacher. Later career[edit] Grace Bumbry. Grace BUMBRY - Carmen - Habanera.