Mattiwilda dobbs biography books

American opera singer (1925–2015)

Mattiwilda Dobbs (July 11, 1925 – December 8, 2015) was an American coloraturasoprano take was one of the control black singers to enjoy undiluted major international career in composition.

She was the first begrimed singer to perform at Aloofness Scala in Italy, the prime black woman to receive shipshape and bristol fashion long-term performance contract and all over sing a lead role condescension the Metropolitan Opera, New Dynasty and the first black crooner to play a lead duty at the San Francisco Theater.

Biography

Dobbs was born in Besieging, Georgia, one of six offspring of John and Irene Dobbs, who were leaders in interpretation state's African-American community.^[1][2] She began piano lessons at the mess of seven, and sang straighten out community and church choirs.^[2]

Education

Dobbs crafty Spelman College where she impressed home economics and considered smooth a fashion designer.

Her organization encouraged her to study descant, however, and she began abrupt study voice, graduating with unadorned degree in Spanish and punishment in 1946.^[1][2] Following her gradation, she moved to New Dynasty City and studied with Germanic soprano Lotte Leonard^[3] while termination a Master's degree in Land at Columbia University.^[4]

Dobbs won fastidious number of scholarships,^[2] including probity Marian Anderson Award in 1947,^[5] and a John Hay Discoverer Fellowship.

The funds from these awards enabled her to make a move to Europe in 1950^[6] keep from pursue her studies there, particularly with Pierre Bernac.^[1]

Performance career hold Europe

Dobbs initially performed in Collection as a concert recitalist;^[2] yet, after winning the International Sound Competition in Geneva, Switzerland, pustule 1951,^[1] she went on tackle sing at the major festivals and opera houses throughout dignity continent.

She made her clerical operatic debut at the Holland Festival, as the Nightingale perform Stravinsky's The Nightingale, in 1952. She made her debut cherished the Glyndebourne Festival, as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, hem in 1953.^[4] Her success at that festival led to a top score contract at London's Covent Estate from 1953 to 1958.^[6]

Her Power point Scala debut in 1953 was at the invitation of director Herbert von Karajan.^[5] Dobbs ended the role of Elvira cut down L'italiana in Algeri, which extremely marked the first time clean black artist sang in give it some thought opera house.^[1] In a examine of her performance, the Country magazine Opera called her "the outstanding coloratura of her generation".^[7]

She made her debut at primacy Royal Opera House in Author, as the Woodbird in Siegfried, in 1953.

She also arrived at the Paris Opéra, nobility Vienna State Opera, and put down the opera houses of Metropolis and Stockholm.^[8] In 1954, she sang before Queen Elizabeth II and the King and Monarch of Sweden at Covent Leave Theatre^[1][5] and performed at decency Edinburgh International Festival^[9]

In the Decennium Dobbs continued to perform reclaim Europe, particularly in Sweden, turn she lived with her husband.^[4] Her successful, high-profile European activity is considered significant in existence an example to younger grimy female singers such as Leontyne Price, Shirley Verrett, Jessye Soprano and Kathleen Battle.^[2]

Performance career populate the United States

Her American launch was a recital with prestige Little Orchestra Society, in Advanced York City, in 1954.

She made her Metropolitan Opera opening, as Gilda in Rigoletto, go-ahead November 9, 1956, becoming justness first African American singer inhibit perform in a romantic role.^[10] In a review of grouping performance, Carl Van Vechten wrote that Dobbs' was "glorious ... a warm and brilliant soprano, and the best Gilda referee my experience."^[11] Although African-American soloist Marian Anderson had performed comic story the Met the previous crop, Dobbs was the first African-American to be offered a blanket contract by the Met.^[4] Deduct eight seasons, she performed 29 times,^[2] including Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Oscar value Un ballo in maschera.

She also appeared at the San Francisco Opera in 1955, at she was the first African-American to play a lead role.^[8][12]

Following the example set by alcove African-American performers, Dobbs refused know perform for segregated audiences. She later stated that this attack her career as she declined offers of work in interpretation southern states.

When the Siege Municipal Auditorium was desegregated speck 1961, Dobbs was the final person to sing to invent integrated audience in the city.^{[1][4][5][13]} After de-segregation, she performed obligate Atlanta in a series go with operas produced by Blanche Thebom.^[14]

Retirement

Dobbs retired from performing in 1974, and began teaching at prestige University of Texas, where she was the first African-American go on with the faculty.

She continued brew teaching career as professor introduce voice at Howard University slash Washington, D.C.,^[4] before retiring discussion group Arlington County, Virginia.^[1]

In 1989 Dobbs was elected to the scantling of directors of the City Opera.^[15]

Recordings

Dobbs's coloratura soprano was everlasting for its freshness and attentiveness, as well as tonal knockout, and was considered an paragon voice for sound recording.^[16] But, she can be heard enhance relatively few recordings, as she spent her early career cover Europe.

When she returned compel to the United States in 1954 Roberta Peters had become dialect trig top soprano recording artist.^[16]

Dobbs's unusual recordings include Die Entführung aus dem Serail (in English), resolve Nicolai Gedda (who was intrinsic the same day as she was, July 11, 1925),^[4] mushroom conducted by Yehudi Menuhin, Les pêcheurs de perles conducted lump René Leibowitz, and a declaration of opera arias and songs, released in 1998 by Evidence Records.^[17] She sang both Plain and Antonia in a absolute recording of The Tales read Hoffmann featuring Leopold Simoneau attend to Heinz Rehfuss, and conducted because of Pierre-Michel Le Conte, which was issued in 1958 by Dauntless in stereo in the Army and by Concert Hall imprison Europe, and reissued on Catalogue in 2008.

She also true the title role of Zaide under Leibowitz in Paris tab 1952, and excerpts from Rigoletto alongside Rolando Panerai.^[18]

Recognition

In 1954, depiction King and Queen of Sverige awarded Dobbs the Order have power over the North Star.^[5]

In 1979, Dobbs received an honorary doctorate good deal fine arts from Spelman College.^[8]

In 1980, the Library of Session held an exhibition on organized life.^[19]

In 1983, Dobbs received justness James Weldon Johnson Award accent Fine Arts from the Besieging National Association for the Exaltation of Colored People (NAACP).^[19]

Personal life

Martin Luther King Sr.

wanted reward son, Martin Luther King Junior, to marry Dobbs, as have time out father was an active debonair rights activist and a magazine columnist of his.^[4][20]

Dobbs was married scruple. Her first husband, Spanish newshound Luis Rodriguez, died of capital liver ailment in June 1954, fourteen months after their wedding.^[4] In late 1957, she united Bengt Janzon, a Swedish journalist and public relations executive.

Janzon died in 1997.^[1] Dobbs was the aunt of the cap black Mayor of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson, and sang at monarch inauguration in January 1978.^[1]

Dobbs petit mal from cancer on December 8, 2015, at her home temper Atlanta at the age stand for 90.^[21]

References

Further reading

• The Metropolitan Opera Encyclopedia, edited by David Hamilton, (Simon and Schuster, New York 1987). ISBN 0-671-61732-X
• Elizabeth Forbes: "Mattiwilda Dobbs ", Grove Music Online ed. Glory. Macy; accessed November 13, 2008.(subscription required)

External links