Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

February 13, 1920 in Willimantic, CT

Death

:

March 23, 2002 in Park Ridge, NJ

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Eileen Farrell was an American soprano who was born on February 13, 1920, in Willimantic, Connecticut. She was the youngest of three children and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a tenor and her mother was a pianist, and they both encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Farrell began singing at a young age and was soon recognized for her talent. She studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and later at the Juilliard School in New York City. She made her professional debut in 1940 with the New York City Opera, where she quickly became a star. Throughout her career, Farrell performed in many of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, and La Scala in Milan. She was known for her powerful voice and her ability to convey emotion through her singing. One of Farrell's most notable performances was in 1955, when she sang the role of Leonora in Verdi's "Il Trovatore" at the Metropolitan Opera. Her performance was widely praised, and she became known as one of the greatest sopranos of her time. Farrell also had a successful career as a concert singer, performing with many of the world's leading orchestras. She was particularly known for her interpretations of the works of Mahler and Strauss. In addition to her performances, Farrell was also a respected teacher. She taught at the Juilliard School and the Indiana University School of Music, where she was a professor of voice from 1974 until her retirement in 1996. Throughout her career, Farrell received many awards and honors. She was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1999, and she was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Farrell died on March 23, 2002, at the age of 82. She left behind a legacy as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, and her recordings continue to be admired by music lovers around the world.

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