Leontyne Price
Leontyne Price: A Legendary Soprano's Enduring Legacy
Full Name and Common Aliases
Leontyne Price was born on February 10, 1927, in Laurel, Mississippi, USA. Her full name is Mary Violet Leontyne Price.
Birth and Death Dates
Price was born on February 10, 1927, and still active in the music world today, although her performances have slowed down significantly over the years.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Leontyne Price is an American soprano, widely regarded as one of the greatest sopranos of all time. Her remarkable career spans over five decades, during which she sang with numerous prestigious opera companies, symphony orchestras, and music festivals around the world.
Early Life and Background
Price's early life was marked by a strong musical influence from her family. Her mother, who played the piano, encouraged Leontyne to sing from an early age. She began taking singing lessons at the age of 13 and later enrolled in Wilberforce University, where she studied music education. However, after graduating, Price decided to pursue a career in opera.
Major Accomplishments
Leontyne Price's illustrious career is characterized by numerous accolades and achievements. Some of her most notable accomplishments include:
Becoming the first African American soprano to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City (1945)
Winning the Marian Anderson Award for her outstanding contributions to opera (1961)
Being awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Ronald Reagan (1984)
Performing in over 600 concerts and opera productions worldwide
Notable Works or Actions
Price's repertoire includes a wide range of operatic roles, from Verdi's _Aida_ to Puccini's _Tosca_. Some of her most notable performances include:
Her iconic portrayal of Leonora in Verdi's _La Forza del Destino_ at the Metropolitan Opera (1959)
Singing the title role in Puccini's _Turandot_ for the first time at La Scala, Milan (1961)
Performing as a guest artist with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna State OperaImpact and Legacy
Leontyne Price's impact on the world of opera is immeasurable. She has inspired countless singers, including many African American women who have followed in her footsteps. Her trailblazing career paved the way for greater diversity and inclusivity in the classical music industry.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Leontyne Price's enduring legacy can be attributed to several factors:
Trailblazer: She broke down barriers as a black woman in a predominantly white male-dominated industry.
Artistic Excellence: Her exceptional voice, technique, and interpretive abilities earned her international recognition and acclaim.
Pioneering Spirit: Leontyne Price's commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity has left a lasting impact on the classical music world.
Throughout her illustrious career, Leontyne Price has demonstrated unwavering dedication to her craft. Her remarkable achievements, both on and off stage, have cemented her place as one of the most beloved and respected sopranos in history.
Quotes by Leontyne Price
If I do have some success, I’d like to enjoy it, for heaven’s sake! What is the point of having it otherwise?
Once you get on stage, everything is right. I feel the most beautiful, complete, fulfilled. I think that’s why, in the case of noncompromising career women, parts of our personal lives don’t work out. One person can’t give you the feeling that thousands of people give you.
If you are going to think black, think positive about it. Don’t think down on it, or think it is something in your way. And this way, when you really do want to stretch out and express how beautiful black is, everybody will hear you.
To sing is the most human of the art form delivery, more than, perhaps, an instrument which has to be tuned mechanically. You are the tuner; you are the vessel. Everything depends on how you feel as a person. It is for you to hear how beautiful your instrument is. From you to you with much, much love. That way you can send it out to the public because they make the careers. Once they accept you and your freedom to be and your love for singing they never leave you. There is no love like that.
We should not have a tin cup out for something as important as the arts in this country, the richest in the world. Creative artists are always begging, but always being used when it’s time to show us at our best.
You should always know when you’re shifting gears in life. You should leave your era; it should never leave you.
If you’re not feeling good about you, what you’re wearing outside doesn’t mean a thing.
We should not have a tin cup out for something as important as the arts in this country, the richest in the world. Creative artists are always begging, but always being used when it's time to show us at our best.
