Birth

:

January 8, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY

Death

:

July 1, 2012 in Sandy Spring, MD

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Evelyn Lear was a renowned American soprano who was born on January 8, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York. She was the daughter of a German immigrant father and an American mother. Her father was a violinist and a conductor, and her mother was a singer. Lear grew up in a musical family and started singing at a young age. Lear studied at the Juilliard School in New York City, where she received her Bachelor of Music degree in 1948. She then went on to study at the American Opera Center, where she received further training in opera. She made her professional debut in 1959 at the New York City Opera, where she sang the role of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's "The Magic Flute." Lear's career took off in the 1960s, when she began performing in Europe. She made her European debut in 1962 at the Vienna State Opera, where she sang the role of Zerbinetta in Richard Strauss's "Ariadne auf Naxos." She quickly became a favorite of European audiences and was invited to perform at many of the major opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Paris Opera, and the Salzburg Festival. One of Lear's most famous performances was in the title role of Alban Berg's "Lulu." She first performed the role in 1966 at the Paris Opera, and it became one of her signature roles. She went on to perform the role at many of the major opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Lear was known for her versatility as a singer and her ability to perform a wide range of roles. She was equally at home in the operas of Mozart, Strauss, and Berg, as well as in the works of contemporary composers. She was particularly known for her interpretations of the works of Benjamin Britten, and she performed in many of his operas, including "The Turn of the Screw," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and "Death in Venice." Lear was also a champion of contemporary music and worked closely with many composers to develop new works. She premiered many new operas, including Hans Werner Henze's "The Bassarids" and Carlisle Floyd's "Of Mice and Men." Throughout her career, Lear received many awards and honors. She was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1989, and she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1991. She was also awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton in 1998. Lear retired from performing in 1996, but she continued to teach and mentor young singers. She taught at the University of Maryland and the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and she was a frequent guest lecturer at universities and music schools around the world. Evelyn Lear passed away on July 1, 2012, at the age of 86. She was remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, and her legacy continues to inspire and influence young singers today.

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