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Terfel, Bryn

(Encyclopedia)Terfel, Bryn, 1965–, Welsh bass-baritone, b. Pant Glas as Bryn Terfel Jones. One of the most acclaimed singers of his era, he has a voice of rare warmth, richness, and power. His rise to public prom...

Hvorostovsky, Dmitri Aleksandrovich

(Encyclopedia)Hvorostovsky, Dmitri Aleksandrovich, 1962–2017, Russian lyric baritone, b. Krasnoyarsk, Siberia. Known for his passionate and vocally mellifluous performances, broad repertoire, superb technique, an...

Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth

(Encyclopedia)Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth shwärtsˈkôpf [key], 1915–2006, German lyric soprano. After studying music in Berlin she was trained by Maria Ivogün. She sang with the Berlin State Opera (1938–42) and b...

Melchior, Lauritz

(Encyclopedia)Melchior, Lauritz mĕlˈkēôr [key], 1890–1973, Danish heroic tenor. He made his debut in Copenhagen in 1913, singing a baritone role in I Pagliacci, and sang regularly at the Bayreuth Festivals f...

Norman, Jessye

(Encyclopedia)Norman, Jessye, 1945–2019, American soprano, b. Augusta, Ga., studied Howard Univ. (B.A., 1967), Univ. of Michigan, and Peabody Conservatory. Making her early reputation in Europe, Norman won first ...

Smyth, Dame Ethel Mary

(Encyclopedia)Smyth, Dame Ethel Mary smīth [key], 1858–1944, English composer, studied at the Leipzig Conservatory. In addition to her many songs and chamber music she wrote operas, including The Wreckers (1906)...

Busch, Adolf

(Encyclopedia)Busch, Adolf äˈdôlf bo͝osh [key], 1891–1952, German-Swiss violinist. He studied at the Cologne Conservatory. From 1919 to 1935 he headed outstanding chamber music groups, including the Busch Qua...

Gigli, Beniamino

(Encyclopedia)Gigli, Beniamino bānyämēˈnō jēˈlyē [key], 1890–1957, Italian tenor. He made his debut (1914) at Rovigo, Italy, as Enzo in La Gioconda. At the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, he was a lead...

Gluck, Alma

(Encyclopedia)Gluck, Alma glo͝ok [key], 1884–1938, American soprano, b. Bucharest, Romania. Her real name was Reba Fiersohn. She sang (1909–12) at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, and was one of the firs...

Fremstad, Olive Nayan

(Encyclopedia)Fremstad, Olive Nayan frĕmˈstăd [key], 1871–1951, Swedish-American soprano; pupil of Lilli Lehmann. She came to the United States as a child. After her European debut (Cologne, 1895), she sang co...