Raskin, Judith (1928–1984)

American soprano. Born on June 21, 1928, in New York City; died on December 21, 1984; daughter of Harry A. Raskin and Lillian (Mendelson) Raskin; attended Smith College, B.A., 1949, M.A. (hon), 1963; studied with Anna Hamlin in New York; married Raymond Raskin (a physician), on July 11, 1948; children: two.

Debuted in Central City, Colorado (1956); made television debut as Susanna in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro with the NBC Opera (1957); made New York City Opera debut in Cosi Fan Tutte (1959); made Metropolitan Opera debut (1962); sang at the Met (1962–72); made debut at Glyndebourne (1963); taught at the Manhattan School of Music and the Mannes College of Music.

Judith Raskin was the rare American singer who did not establish her reputation in Europe before appearing on the American stage. She was born in New York City in 1928; her father was a music teacher at a Bronx high school and her mother taught in an elementary school. As a child, Raskin studied piano and violin, but her vocal studies did not begin until her piano teacher heard her sing. In college, she studied with Anna Hamlin . After her marriage in 1948, Raskin devoted herself to family for almost ten years and then successfully auditioned for a role as Susanna in the NBC Opera production of Le nozze di Figaro. Success led her in 1962 to a debut at the Metropolitan Opera, where she sang until 1972. Raskin's vocal purity often led to comparisons with Elisabeth Schumann . Despite a late beginning, she established herself as an international star. Ill health, however, forced an early retirement from the stage. Judith Raskin then taught for a number of years at the Manhattan School of Music and the Mannes College of Music before her death in 1984.

John Haag , Athens, Georgia