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Claramae TurnerAmerican contralto opera singer
Date of Birth: 28.10.1920
Country:  USA |
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Claramae Turner - Biography
Claramae Turner, an American operatic contralto, was born on October 28, 1920, in Dinuba, California. She gained widespread recognition for her performances in the musical film "Carousel" (1965), where she sang popular songs like "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "June Is Bustin' Out all Over". The film was an adaptation of the renowned musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.
Early Career
Claramae Turner began her career as an artist at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City during the late 1940s and early 1950s. She also performed with the New York City Opera. Turner participated in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti's dramatic opera "The Medium", playing the role of Madame Flora. She reprised this role in an episode of the educational television program "Omnibus", hosted by Alistair Cooke.
Notable Roles
One of Turner's most intriguing roles at the Metropolitan Opera was Gertrude in the English version of Engelbert Humperdinck's "Hänsel und Gretel". This opera became one of the first complete recordings of a live performance at the Metropolitan Opera, released on "Columbia Masterworks Records". Turner also portrayed Gertrude on television in the NBC Television Opera Theatre. She also sang the role of Nurse in the renowned 1946 production of Charles Gounod's "Roméo et Juliette" at the Metropolitan Opera, alongside Swedish tenor Jussi Björling and Brazilian soprano Bidu Sayão.
Recordings and Films
In 1954, Turner performed the role of Ulrica in a radio production of Giuseppe Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera" conducted by Arturo Toscanini. This recording was later released by RCA Victor. In 1956, Turner appeared in her only film, the movie musical "Carousel" based on the popular stage show. She portrayed the character of Nettie and sang songs such as "June is Bustin' Out All Over", "A Real Nice Clambake", and "You'll Never Walk Alone". Turner reprised her role as Nettie in a studio recording of "Carousel" for Command Records in the early 1960s, which has not been released on CD.
Later Works
Claramae Turner is also credited with writing the song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", which was first sung by her, not Tony Bennett. However, Tony Bennett was the first to record the song. Recently, live recordings of Verdi's opera "La forza del destino" conducted by Walter Herbert and his "Requiem" conducted by Guido Cantelli have been released, featuring Turner's voice.
