Birth

:

February 1, 1946 in Modesto, CA

Death

:

November 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Symphony

 

Carol Neblett was an American soprano who was born on February 1, 1946, in Modesto, California. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Neblett began singing at a young age and was trained in classical music. She attended the University of Southern California and studied under the renowned vocal coach, Lotte Lehmann. Neblett made her professional debut in 1969 at the San Francisco Opera as Musetta in Puccini's La Bohème. She quickly gained recognition for her powerful voice and dramatic stage presence. In 1971, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City as Mimi in La Bohème. This performance was a major milestone in her career and established her as one of the leading sopranos of her time. Throughout her career, Neblett performed in many of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Paris Opera, and the Vienna State Opera. She was known for her performances in the works of Verdi, Puccini, and Wagner, and was particularly acclaimed for her portrayal of the title role in Puccini's Tosca. Neblett was also a frequent performer with the Los Angeles Opera, where she appeared in productions of La Bohème, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly. She was a regular guest artist with the San Francisco Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Houston Grand Opera. In addition to her work in opera, Neblett 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 noted for her performances of Mahler's Symphony No. 8, which she performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the direction of Zubin Mehta. Neblett was the recipient of many awards and honors throughout her career. In 1976, she was awarded the Richard Tucker Award, which is given annually to an outstanding American opera singer. She was also awarded the National Opera Institute's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera in 1981. Neblett's career was not without its challenges. In 1985, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. She continued to perform throughout her treatment and became an advocate for breast cancer awareness. She also founded the Carol Neblett Foundation, which provides support and resources for women with breast cancer. Neblett's final performance was in 1999, when she appeared in a production of Tosca with the Los Angeles Opera. She retired from performing shortly thereafter and devoted herself to teaching and mentoring young singers. Carol Neblett passed away on November 23, 2017, at the age of 71. She was remembered as a gifted artist and a generous mentor to many young singers. Her legacy lives on through her recordings and the many singers she inspired and taught throughout her career.

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