Adelaide Bishop Obituary

BISHOP--Adelaide. New York City Opera mourns the passing of our dear friend and colleague Adelaide Bishop, a leading soprano of our company from 1948-1960 and a loyal friend and frequent visitor until her death. Beginning with her 1948 City Opera debut as Gilda in Rigoletto, she brought her lyric voice, keen musicianship, and sprightly stage presence to our stage in roles including Susanna in Figaro, Sophie in Rosenkavalier, Olympia in Tales of Hoffmann, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, and Norina in the company premiere of Don Pasquale. A staunch advocate of new American music, Adi was very proud of, and will be especially remembered for, her City Opera performances as Laetitia in Menotti's "Old Maid and the Thief" (1952), Mary Stone in Moore's "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (1959), and the Stepdaughter in the world premiere of Weisgall's "Six Characters in Search of an Author" (1959). Becoming an opera director and administrator after retiring from singing, she served as opera department chair at Boston University and artistic director of both the Wolf Trap Opera Training Program and the Opera Theater at Hartford's Hartt College of Music. We will sorely miss her and her enthusiastic support for our company, and we offer our sincere condolences to her family and her vast extended family of friends, colleagues, and former students, many of whom are company members. Susan L. Baker Chairman

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Published by New York Times on Jun. 26, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Adelaide Bishop

6 Entries

Roberta DiBisceglie

July 6, 2008

I was Mrs. Bishop's gardener in Wilton, CT. We did not know each other long or well, but I was struck by her kindness and sincerity. What a lovely woman. I am lucky to have known her, even briefly. May she sing with the angels.

Marilyn Moore

June 30, 2008

Adi was an "annual friend" of the highest calibre as we gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving at the home of our mutual friends ---Mark and Stephen. The six hours (or more) of loving attention to our trials and
triiumphs as we revelled in our good fortune to be able to share this special time with each other are the hallmarks of each year.
Oh, Adi, Thank you for you; we will miss you very much.

Roger Ames

June 28, 2008

Adi directed a workshop of my first opera, AMISTAD, in Washington, D.C. Her wisdom and tender guidance to me - then a young aspiring composer, was cherished - and still is. We went on to work together at the Hartt School, where I assisted her in the Opera Department and shepherded the Musical Theatre program. I always admired her high goals for artistry from everyone - and especially remember being a bit insecure conducting a production of CANDIDE at Hartt. She said to me: "Shh, the only one who knows you were insecure is you - you did a fine job." Her cajoling, her gruff support, and her ability to let you know that more needed to be done - a gift I shall ever cherish. My heart goes out to all those who are touched by her death.

James Jordan

June 27, 2008

Adie was my friend and dear colleague at the Hartt School of Music. Her passion for excellence, and her larger passion for the teaching and molding young artists inspired all of us who worked with her. What she taught young artists about "being" on stage and human communication was remarkable. Her honesty coupled with her understanding of what it was to teach well inspired me when I was her colleague and inspires me to this day. The music world is a better place because of her gifts, and her legacy will live on in all those students whom she deeply touched. We all adored her for what she lived day to day. I feel deeply fortunate to have taught alongside her as her colleague, but in hindsight---I was also her student.

Edward Alley

June 26, 2008

Adi Bishop was a dear friend and colleague. We worked together in many capacities. I was a conductor for several of her productions, and she was a wonderful judge in oh-so-many auditions for the Rockefeller Fund for Music, Affiliate Artists, MET auditions and International Vocal Competitions. At all times she was knowledgeable, fair, and articulate. She was such a dear friend and mentor to so many who, like me, will mourn her intimely death.

Baltic Cruise - Saba McWilliams (L), Adelaide Bishop (R), Randy & Helen Ronco (Not Pictured)

Randy Ronco

June 26, 2008

For those of you who were blessed to work with her, you know that her performance insights and extensive directing background added the necessary touch of artistic expression and professionalism to any aspiring production. In addition to her ongoing support of our organization, Montage Theater Company, she played the role of personal confidante to me and Helen providing artistic and business guidance throughout the years.

Beyond the artistic world, the relationship Helen and I have formed with Adi is deeply personal and moves far beyond any friendship. She is truly one of our family members and the loss for us is great. We are consoling one another with our fond memories but eventually we reach silence. The silence is deafening and all that appear are tears to wash the sorrow from our broken hearts. I miss you “Bishop”.

Please hold someone close today as you never know when they will be gone.

Randy & Helen Ronco

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