Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Helen Jepson was an American soprano who was born on November 28, 1904, in Titusville, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of a Methodist minister and grew up in a musical family. Her mother was a pianist, and her father played the violin. Jepson began singing in church choirs at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. Jepson attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where she studied voice and music theory. She later studied with the renowned vocal coach, William Vennard, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Jepson made her professional debut in 1929 with the Philadelphia Civic Opera Company, where she sang the role of Micaela in Bizet's Carmen. Jepson's breakthrough came in 1935 when she was chosen to sing the role of Marguerite in Gounod's Faust at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Her performance was a huge success, and she quickly became one of the most sought-after sopranos in the world. Jepson went on to perform at the Metropolitan Opera for the next ten years, singing a wide range of roles in operas by composers such as Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Richard Strauss. One of Jepson's most memorable performances was in the title role of Puccini's Madama Butterfly in 1939. Her portrayal of the tragic heroine was praised for its emotional depth and sensitivity. Jepson also received critical acclaim for her performances in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni, as well as Verdi's La Traviata and Rigoletto. In addition to her work at the Metropolitan Opera, Jepson also performed with other major opera companies in the United States and Europe. She sang with the San Francisco Opera, the Chicago Opera, and the Paris Opera, among others. Jepson also appeared in several films, including The Great Victor Herbert (1939) and The Hard-Boiled Canary (1941). Jepson's career was cut short in 1945 when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She retired from performing and devoted herself to teaching voice at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Jepson's students included the soprano Judith Raskin and the mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne. Despite her illness, Jepson remained active in the music world and served as a board member of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She also wrote a memoir, entitled Helen Jepson: My Own Voice (1954), which chronicled her life and career in music. Jepson received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 1939, she was awarded the National Institute of Social Sciences Gold Medal for her contributions to the arts. She was also inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame in 1998. Helen Jepson died on September 16, 1997, at the age of 92. She is remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, whose voice and artistry touched the hearts of audiences around the world.

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