Birth

:

March 13, 1931 in Lowell, MA

Death

:

May 3, 2020 in New York City, NY

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

Rosalind Elias was a renowned American mezzo-soprano who was born on March 13, 1931, in Lowell, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Lebanese immigrants and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a violinist, and her mother was a pianist. Elias began singing at a young age and was encouraged by her parents to pursue a career in music. Elias attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she studied voice with Boris Goldovsky. She made her professional debut in 1954 with the New York City Opera as Grimgerde in Wagner's "Die Walküre." She quickly gained recognition for her powerful voice and dramatic stage presence. In 1957, Elias made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Maddalena in Verdi's "Rigoletto." She went on to perform over 600 times at the Met, singing a wide range of roles, including Carmen in Bizet's "Carmen," Amneris in Verdi's "Aida," and Klytämnestra in Strauss's "Elektra." She was known for her ability to bring depth and emotion to her performances, and her powerful voice was often described as "rich" and "velvety." Elias also performed with many other opera companies throughout her career, including the San Francisco Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Paris Opera. She was a frequent guest artist at the Salzburg Festival in Austria, where she performed in productions of Mozart's "Don Giovanni" and "Le nozze di Figaro." In addition to her opera career, Elias was also a successful concert artist. She performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. She was particularly known for her performances of Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" and "Kindertotenlieder." Elias received many awards and honors throughout her career. In 1962, she was awarded the Metropolitan Opera's prestigious Beverly Sills Award, which recognizes young singers with exceptional talent. She was also a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, which is the highest honor given to artists by the United States government. Elias continued to perform well into her 80s, and her final performance was in 2017, when she appeared in a production of "The Merry Widow" at the Metropolitan Opera. She passed away on May 3, 2020, at the age of 89. In conclusion, Rosalind Elias was a highly respected and accomplished mezzo-soprano who had a long and successful career in opera and concert performance. Her powerful voice and dramatic stage presence made her a favorite among audiences and critics alike, and she received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the world of classical music. Her legacy as one of the great mezzo-sopranos of the 20th century will continue to inspire and influence future generations of musicians.

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