Birth

:

January 22, 1911 in Brussels, Belgium

Death

:

August 10, 2000 in Fiesole, Italy

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Suzanne Danco was a Belgian soprano who was born on July 22, 1911, in Brussels, Belgium. She was the daughter of a Belgian father and a French mother. Her father was a lawyer, and her mother was a pianist. Danco grew up in a musical family, and she began singing at a young age. Danco studied at the Brussels Conservatory, where she was a student of Désiré Defauw. She made her debut in 1932 at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, where she sang the role of Micaëla in Bizet's Carmen. She quickly gained a reputation as a talented soprano, and she began performing in other European cities. In 1937, Danco made her debut at the Salzburg Festival, where she sang the role of Pamina in Mozart's The Magic Flute. This performance was a major success, and it helped to establish Danco as one of the leading sopranos of her time. She continued to perform at the Salzburg Festival for many years, and she became a regular performer at other major European opera houses. During World War II, Danco moved to the United States, where she continued to perform. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1942, where she sang the role of Mélisande in Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande. She also performed with the New York Philharmonic and other major American orchestras. Danco was known for her beautiful voice and her ability to convey emotion through her singing. She was particularly admired for her performances of Mozart's operas, and she was considered one of the greatest interpreters of Mozart's music. She also performed works by other composers, including Debussy, Ravel, and Richard Strauss. In addition to her opera performances, Danco was also a successful concert singer. She performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. She also recorded many albums, including a highly acclaimed recording of Mozart's Requiem. Danco received many awards and honors throughout her career. In 1950, she was awarded the Order of Leopold II by the Belgian government for her contributions to Belgian culture. She was also awarded the Légion d'honneur by the French government in 1953. In 1961, she was awarded the title of Kammersängerin by the Austrian government, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a singer in Austria. Danco retired from performing in 1966, but she continued to teach singing at the Brussels Conservatory. She also served as a judge for many international singing competitions. She died on August 10, 2000, at the age of 89. In conclusion, Suzanne Danco was a talented soprano who had a successful career in both opera and concert singing. She was known for her beautiful voice and her ability to convey emotion through her singing. She received many awards and honors throughout her career, and she was considered one of the greatest interpreters of Mozart's music. Danco's legacy continues to inspire and influence singers today.

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