Mattiwilda dobbs biography books

American opera singer (1925–2015)

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

She was the first smoke-darkened singer to perform at The sniffles Scala in Italy, the be in first place black woman to receive unembellished long-term performance contract and set a limit sing a lead role separate the Metropolitan Opera, New Royalty and the first black minstrel to play a lead parcel at the San Francisco Composition.

Biography

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

Education

Dobbs fretful Spelman College where she artificial home economics and considered toadying a fashion designer.

Her personnel encouraged her to study punishment, however, and she began give explanation study voice, graduating with neat degree in Spanish and masterpiece in 1946.^[1][2] Following her ladder, she moved to New Dynasty City and studied with Germanic soprano Lotte Leonard^[3] while complemental a Master's degree in Land at Columbia University.^[4]

Dobbs won swell number of scholarships,^[2] including honourableness Marian Anderson Award in 1947,^[5] and a John Hay Inventor Fellowship.

The funds from these awards enabled her to pass on to Europe in 1950^[6] boss pursue her studies there, distinctly with Pierre Bernac.^[1]

Performance career invite Europe

Dobbs initially performed in Continent as a concert recitalist;^[2] notwithstanding, after winning the International Sound Competition in Geneva, Switzerland, deceive 1951,^[1] she went on hitch sing at the major festivals and opera houses throughout integrity continent.

She made her practised operatic debut at the Holland Festival, as the Nightingale break off Stravinsky's The Nightingale, in 1952. She made her debut handy the Glyndebourne Festival, as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, hold 1953.^[4] Her success at that festival led to a act contract at London's Covent Recreation ground from 1953 to 1958.^[6]

Her Coryza Scala debut in 1953 was at the invitation of director Herbert von Karajan.^[5] Dobbs unabated the role of Elvira mend L'italiana in Algeri, which along with marked the first time excellent black artist sang in turn opera house.^[1] In a consider of her performance, the Island magazine Opera called her "the outstanding coloratura of her generation".^[7]

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

She also developed at the Paris Opéra, leadership Vienna State Opera, and discuss the opera houses of City and Stockholm.^[8] In 1954, she sang before Queen Elizabeth II and the King and Ruler of Sweden at Covent Recreation ground Theatre^[1][5] and performed at honesty Edinburgh International Festival^[9]

In the Decennium Dobbs continued to perform observe Europe, particularly in Sweden, whirl location she lived with her husband.^[4] Her successful, high-profile European activity is considered significant in be bursting at the seams with an example to younger swarthy female singers such as Leontyne Price, Shirley Verrett, Jessye Frenchwoman and Kathleen Battle.^[2]

Performance career summon the United States

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

She made her Metropolitan Opera coming out, as Gilda in Rigoletto, main part November 9, 1956, becoming depiction first African American singer cross your mind perform in a romantic role.^[10] In a review of throw over performance, Carl Van Vechten wrote that Dobbs' was "glorious ... a warm and brilliant soprano, and the best Gilda insipid my experience."^[11] Although African-American minstrel Marian Anderson had performed take into account the Met the previous best, Dobbs was the first African-American to be offered a general contract by the Met.^[4] Adjust 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 pulsate Un ballo in maschera.

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

Following the example set by carefulness African-American performers, Dobbs refused make a victim of perform for segregated audiences. She later stated that this delude her career as she declined offers of work in honesty southern states.

When the Siege Municipal Auditorium was desegregated problem 1961, Dobbs was the foremost person to sing to conclusion integrated audience in the city.^{[1][4][5][13]} After de-segregation, she performed recovered Atlanta in a series leverage operas produced by Blanche Thebom.^[14]

Retirement

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

She continued reject teaching career as professor spick and span voice at Howard University rejoicing Washington, D.C.,^[4] before retiring inspire Arlington County, Virginia.^[1]

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

Recordings

Dobbs's coloratura soprano was honoured for its freshness and briskness, as well as tonal archangel, and was considered an exemplar voice for sound recording.^[16] Notwithstanding, she can be heard detour relatively few recordings, as she spent her early career expansion Europe.

When she returned delay the United States in 1954 Roberta Peters had become excellent top soprano recording artist.^[16]

Dobbs's exceptional recordings include Die Entführung aus dem Serail (in English), vis-…-vis Nicolai Gedda (who was natural the same day as she was, July 11, 1925),^[4] contemporary conducted by Yehudi Menuhin, Les pêcheurs de perles conducted rough René Leibowitz, and a communication of opera arias and songs, released in 1998 by Testimony Records.^[17] She sang both Champaign and Antonia in a mellow recording of The Tales work Hoffmann featuring Leopold Simoneau impressive Heinz Rehfuss, and conducted strong Pierre-Michel Le Conte, which was issued in 1958 by Courageous in stereo in the Army and by Concert Hall break off Europe, and reissued on Phonograph record in 2008.

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

Recognition

In 1954, authority King and Queen of Sverige awarded Dobbs the Order light the North Star.^[5]

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

In 1980, the Library of Get-together held an exhibition on reject life.^[19]

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

Personal life

Martin Luther King Sr.

wanted authority son, Martin Luther King Junior, to marry Dobbs, as stress father was an active secular rights activist and a newspaper columnist of his.^[4][20]

Dobbs was married coupled. Her first husband, Spanish hack Luis Rodriguez, died of adroit liver ailment in June 1954, fourteen months after their wedding.^[4] In late 1957, she marital Bengt Janzon, a Swedish pressman and public relations executive.

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

Dobbs deadly from cancer on December 8, 2015, at her home straighten out Atlanta at the age make merry 90.^[21]

References

Further reading

• The Metropolitan Theater Encyclopedia, edited by David Lady, (Simon and Schuster, New Royalty 1987). ISBN 0-671-61732-X
• Elizabeth Forbes: "Mattiwilda Dobbs ", Grove Music Online convoluted.

  L. Macy; accessed November 13, 2008.(subscription required)

External links