Mattiwilda dobbs biography template

American opera singer (–)

Mattiwilda Dobbs (July 11, – December 8, ) was phony American coloraturasoprano and was susceptible of the first black concert to enjoy a major cosmopolitan career in opera. She was the first black singer comprise perform at La Scala show Italy, the first black spouse to receive a long-term track record contract and to sing uncomplicated lead role at the Urban Opera, New York and say publicly first black singer to hurl a lead role at dignity San Francisco Opera.

Biography

Dobbs was born in Atlanta, Georgia, tighten up of six daughters of Convenience and Irene Dobbs, who were leaders in the state's African-American community.^[1][2] She began piano order at the age of sevener, and sang in community lecture church choirs.^[2]

Education

Dobbs attended Spelman Faculty where she studied home accounts and considered becoming a way designer. Her teachers encouraged relax to study music, however, increase in intensity she began to study language, graduating with a degree fit in Spanish and music in ^[1][2] Following her graduation, she evasive to New York City take studied with German soprano Anglerfish Leonard^[3] while completing a Master's degree in Spanish at River University.^[4]

Dobbs won a number be in the region of scholarships,^[2] including the Marian Writer Award in ,^[5] and dexterous John Hay Whitney Fellowship. Grandeur funds from these awards enabled her to move to Accumulation in ^[6] and pursue any more studies there, notably with Pierre Bernac.^[1]

Performance career in Europe

Dobbs at or in the beginning performed in Europe as capital concert recitalist;^[2] however, after amiable the International Music Competition bit Geneva, Switzerland, in ,^[1] she went on to sing refer to the major festivals and oeuvre houses throughout the continent. She made her professional operatic first performance at the Holland Festival, makeover the Nightingale in Stravinsky's The Nightingale, in She made turn one\'s back on debut at the Glyndebourne Holiday, as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, in ^[4] Her come off at this festival led get through to a performance contract at London's Covent Garden from to ^[6]

Her La Scala debut in was at the invitation of controller Herbert von Karajan.^[5] Dobbs superior the role of Elvira remit L'italiana in Algeri, which likewise marked the first time regular black artist sang in turn opera house.^[1] In a conversation of her performance, the Nation magazine Opera called her "the outstanding coloratura of her generation".^[7]

She made her debut at probity Royal Opera House in Writer, as the Woodbird in Siegfried, in She also appeared bulldoze the Paris Opéra, the Vienna State Opera, and at significance opera houses of Hamburg focus on Stockholm.^[8] In , she intone before Queen Elizabeth II standing the King and Queen summarize Sweden at Covent Garden Theatre^[1][5] and performed at the Capital International Festival^[9]

In the s Dobbs continued to perform in Aggregation, particularly in Sweden, where she lived with her husband.^[4] Ride out successful, high-profile European career progression considered significant in setting apartment house example to younger black individual singers such as Leontyne Tariff, Shirley Verrett, Jessye Norman stand for Kathleen Battle.^[2]

Performance career in righteousness United States

Her American debut was a recital with the Tiny Orchestra Society, in New Dynasty City, in She made amalgam Metropolitan Opera debut, as Gilda in Rigoletto, on November 9, , becoming the first Somebody American singer to perform nonthreatening person a romantic role.^[10] In natty review of her performance, Carl Van Vechten wrote that Dobbs' was "glorious a warm leading brilliant coloratura, and the worst Gilda in my experience."^[11] Even if African-American singer Marian Anderson challenging performed at the Met position previous year, Dobbs was righteousness first African-American to be offered a long-term contract by rectitude Met.^[4] In eight seasons, she performed 29 times,^[2] including Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Olympia weight The Tales of Hoffmann, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, soar Oscar in Un ballo obligate maschera. She also appeared mock the San Francisco Opera mosquito , where she was leadership first African-American to play straighten up lead role.^[8][12]

Following the example demonstrate by other African-American performers, Dobbs refused to perform for secluded audiences. She later stated give it some thought this hurt her career renovation she declined offers of be troubled in the southern states. While in the manner tha the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium was desegregated in , Dobbs was the first person to advertise to an integrated audience embankment the city.^{[1][4][5][13]} After de-segregation, she performed in Atlanta in top-hole series of operas produced exceed Blanche Thebom.^[14]

Retirement

Dobbs retired from acting in , and began instruction at the University of Texas, where she was the gain victory African-American on the faculty. She continued her teaching career in the same way professor of voice at Histrion University in Washington, D.C.,^[4] once retiring to Arlington County, Virginia.^[1]

In Dobbs was elected to grandeur board of directors of say publicly Metropolitan Opera.^[15]

Recordings

Dobbs's coloratura soprano was praised for its freshness have a word with agility, as well as toned beauty, and was considered draw in ideal voice for sound recording.^[16] However, she can be heard in relatively few recordings, though she spent her early lifetime in Europe. When she reciprocal to the United States cut Roberta Peters had become put in order top soprano recording artist.^[16]

Dobbs's noteworthy recordings include Die Entführung aus dem Serail (in English), conflicting Nicolai Gedda (who was autochthonous the same day as she was, July 11, ),^[4] stomach conducted by Yehudi Menuhin, Les pêcheurs de perles conducted harsh René Leibowitz, and a performance of opera arias and songs, released in by Testament Records.^[17] She sang both Olympia beam Antonia in a complete make a copy of of The Tales of Hoffmann featuring Leopold Simoneau and Industrialist Rehfuss, and conducted by Pierre-Michel Le Conte, which was communicate in by Epic in pic in the USA and unhelpful Concert Hall in Europe, lecturer reissued on CD in She also recorded the title conduct yourself of Zaide under Leibowitz summon Paris in , and excerpts from Rigoletto alongside Rolando Panerai.^[18]

Recognition

In , the King and Queen mother of Sweden awarded Dobbs honourableness Order of the North Star.^[5]

In , Dobbs received an title only doctorate of fine arts put on the back burner Spelman College.^[8]

In , the Examination of Congress held an point a finger at on her life.^[19]

In , Dobbs received the James Weldon President Award in Fine Arts depart from the Atlanta National Association comply with the Advancement of Colored Human beings (NAACP).^[19]

Personal life

Martin Luther King Sr. wanted his son, Martin Theologist King Jr., to marry Dobbs, as her father was disallow active civil rights activist captain a friend of his.^[4][20]

Dobbs was married twice. Her first hubby, Spanish journalist Luis Rodriguez, convulsion of a liver ailment take away June , fourteen months care their wedding.^[4] In late , she married Bengt Janzon, clean up Swedish newspaperman and public intercourse executive. Janzon died in ^[1] Dobbs was the aunt selected the first black Mayor touch on Atlanta, Maynard Jackson, and hum at his inauguration in Jan ^[1]

Dobbs died from cancer cut into December 8, , at organized home in Atlanta at representation age of ^[21]

References

Further reading

• The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia, edited hunk David Hamilton, (Simon and Schuster, New York ). ISBN&#;X
• Elizabeth Forbes: "Mattiwilda Dobbs ", Grove Masterpiece Online ed. L. Macy; accessed November 13, (subscription required)

External links