Leontyne Price (b.1927,) fully Mary Violet Leontyne Price, is an American lyric soprano. She is the first African American singer to achieve an international reputation in opera.
Born in Laurel, Mississippi, Price studied at the Juilliard Music School in New York City. She was a notable Bess (1952–54) in George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and as an impressive Verdi singer. She was much associated with American composer Samuel Barber’s music.
Price made her début at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1961. In 1966, she created Cleopatra’s role (written for her) in Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra. Her farewell performance was in Aida at the Metropolitan Opera (1985.)
Price has won many awards, including the 1985 National Medal of Arts, and was made a Commander of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1986.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Leontyne Price
The ultimate of being successful is the luxury of giving yourself the time to do what you want to do.
—Leontyne Price
Topics: Success & Failure, Success, Luxury
I prefer to leave standing up, like a well-mannered guest at a party.
—Leontyne Price
Topics: Manners
Stay up and really burn the midnight oil. There are no compromises.
—Leontyne Price
Topics: Conscience
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