Verrett, Shirley (1931–)
Verrett, Shirley (1931–)
American mezzo-soprano. Name variations: known professionally as Shirley Verrett-Carter until 1963. Born Shirley Verrett, May 31, 1931, in New Orleans, LA; received AA degree from Ventura (California) College, 1951; studied with Anna Fitziu and Hall Johnson; studied with Marian Szekely-Freschl at Juilliard, graduating 1961; m. 2nd husband Louis Frank LoMonaco (painter and illustrator), 1963.
One of the foremost singers of her time, made NY debut at New York City Opera as Irina in Weill's Lost in the Stars (1958); performed in 1st recital at NY's Town Hall, singing arias by Handel, Bach and Mozart, as well as works by Chausson, Brahms, Purcell and Persichetti (1958); sang role of Carmen with New York City Opera (1964) to great acclaim; appeared as Athaliah, Queen of Judea, in world premiere at Lincoln Center (1964); sang Carmen at Teatro alla Scala debut (1966); performed Ulrica in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera for triumphant Covent Garden debut; debuted at Metropolitan (1968), again as Carmen, and continued to sing at Met regularly for more than 2 decades, making musical history when she appeared as both Cassandra and Dido in Berlioz's Les Troyens; also appeared at Met as both Norma and Azucena in Bellini's Norma, and as Tosca, Eboli, Lady Macbeth, Amneris and Azucena; made Broadway debut as Nettie Fowler in Carousel (1994); joined faculty at University of Michigan as James Earl Jones Distinguished University Professor of Music (1996).
See also Women in World History.