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Grace BumbryAmerican opera singer, mezzo-soprano, soprano
Date of Birth: 04.01.1937
Country:  USA |
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American Opera Singer, Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano
Grace Bumbry is an American opera singer and one of the most outstanding sopranos and mezzo-sopranos of her generation. She was fortunate to be part of a highly extraordinary and innovative generation of singers who followed in the footsteps of Marian Anderson in the world of classical music, paving the way for future African-American opera and classical music enthusiasts. Many still remember the names Leontyne Price, Martina Arroyo, Shirley Verrett, and Reri Grist, but Bumbry's name shines just as brightly. With her rich and remarkably flexible voice, Grace had the ability to hit notes in a vast range and captivate audiences with her distinct tone.
Early Life
Grace was born in St. Louis, Missouri, into a family that was neither wealthy nor extremely poor. Her father worked for the railroad, while her mother was a homemaker. After graduating from Charles Sumner High School, a prestigious institution and the first school for African-Americans west of the Mississippi, Grace began her vocal training. At the age of 17, she won her first radio competition, impressively performing Verdi's "O don fatale." One of the prizes for first place was a scholarship to a local conservatory. Unfortunately, racial intolerance still existed at that time, and Bumbry was not accepted into the conservatory due to her skin color. The organizers of the competition were displeased with this display of racism, and they managed to arrange for Grace to study at Boston University instead. After some time, Bumbry transferred to Northwestern University, where she met German dramatic soprano and renowned Wagner specialist Lotte Lehmann, who became her mentor.
International Recognition
Grace gained international recognition in 1961 when Wieland Wagner, grandson of Richard Wagner, selected her to portray Venus in a production at Bayreuth. Bumbry became the first African-American singer to grace the stage at Bayreuth, initially causing a stir among the local opera lovers. However, by the end of the production, Grace had won over even the most skeptical audience members with her talent. The ovation lasted almost 30 minutes, and even 42 attempts to lower the curtain could not stop it. Naturally, after such a triumph, Bumbry became the talk of the world, and Jacqueline Kennedy personally invited her to perform at the White House. Interestingly, after this spectacular debut, Grace never again accepted small, episodic roles.
Later Career
In 1963, Bumbry made her debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, followed by invitations to La Scala in 1964 and the Metropolitan Opera a year later. In 1964, she tried her hand at soprano, singing the role of Lady Macbeth at the Vienna State Opera. In 1963, the singer married Polish tenor Erwin Jaeckel, but they divorced in 1972. In the 1970s, Bumbry gradually transitioned to soprano roles, with her first successful role in this new range being Salome, which she performed at Covent Garden in 1970. Prior to this, Grace had performed as a soprano twice, but these roles are considered more transitional attempts. Bumbry made her final appearance on an opera stage in 1997 and has since focused on teaching.
