Julia Migenes-Johnson American opera singer Date of Birth: 13.03.1949 Country: USA

1. Biography of Julia Migenes-Johnson
2. Early Career
3. Operatic Success
4. Return to the United States and Metropolitan Opera
5. Other Notable Performances
6. Television and Popular Music
7. Discography

Biography of Julia Migenes-Johnson

Julia Migenes-Johnson is an American opera singer, renowned soprano, and actress. She was born on March 13, 1949, in the Lower East Side of New York. Her ancestors include Greeks, Irish, and Puerto Ricans. Sometimes, she signs her name as Julia Migenes-Johnson.

Early Career

Julia made her stage debut as Dolore in the opera "Madama Butterfly" at the Metropolitan Opera as a child. After graduating from the High School of Music and Art in New York, she appeared on Broadway in musicals such as "West Side Story" and "Fiddler on the Roof".

Operatic Success

In 1965, Julia made her debut at the New York City Opera as Annina in Gian Carlo Menotti's opera "The Saint of Bleecker Street". In the early 70s, she continued her career in Europe and studied under Gisela Ultmann in Cologne, who had a significant influence on her vocal technique and dramatic style. She became a popular performer at the Volksoper Wien, where she sang roles such as Despina in "Così fan tutte", Susanna in "Le nozze di Figaro", Blonde in "Die Entführung aus dem Serail", and Toinette in "Der eingebildete Kranke" by Franz Wolpert.

Return to the United States and Metropolitan Opera

Julia returned to the United States and performed as Musetta in "La bohème" at the San Francisco Opera in 1978. In the following year, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Jenny in the satirical opera "Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny". She appeared in various other roles at the Metropolitan Opera, including Musetta, Nedda in "Pagliacci", and the lead role in "Lulu" in 1985, which received high praise from critics for her singing and acting abilities. She also performed as Lulu at the Vienna State Opera in 1983.

Other Notable Performances

Julia portrayed Salome in Geneva, Eurydice in Jacques Offenbach's "Orpheus in the Underworld" at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1983, and Manon in Jules Massenet's "Manon" when she made her debut at Covent Garden in 1987. In Los Angeles, she performed Olympia, Antonia, and Giulietta in Offenbach's "Les contes d'Hoffmann" in 1988.

Television and Popular Music

In addition to her successful opera career, Julia gained attention for her television performances and variety shows in Germany and Britain. She also performed popular music. In 1984, she captivated audiences with her portrayal of Carmen in a televised version of Georges Bizet's opera, where she acted and sang alongside Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo. Her roles as The Woman in "La voix humaine" (1991) and Jenny the prostitute in Kurt Weill's "Die Dreigroschenoper" (1991) are also highly regarded.

Discography

Julia Migenes' discography includes thirty complete works, including television versions of Broadway hits like "Man of La Mancha" and "Kismet", excerpts from Viennese operettas, and traditional ballad concerts.