Grace Bumbry was an operatic mezzo-soprano who became one of the first Black superstars of the genre.
- Died: May 7, 2023 (Who else died on May 7?)
- Details of death: Died at a hospital in Vienna of complications from a stroke she suffered last year at the age of 86.
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Grace Bumbry’s legacy
Bumbry burst onto the opera scene in the early 1960s, becoming a star almost as soon as she took the stage. Her debut took place at the Paris Opera in 1960, singing Amneris, the daughter of the king, in Verdi’s “Aida.” In 1961, she became the first Black singer to perform at the prestigious Bayreuth Festival in Germany; she sang Venus in Wagner’s “Tannhäuser,” shocking the opera world with her portrayal of a character who had always been played by a white woman in the past. Bumbry was targeted by racists for her performance, but she was also showered with accolades as she captivated the audience and critics alike. She received a 30-minute ovation, with 42 curtain calls.
The following year, she was invited to sing at the White House by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929–1994), who had heard of the praise for Bumbry’s Bayreuth performance. She would go on to appear on major stages, including the Royal Opera House, La Scala, and the Metropolitan Opera. She sang in many notable roles, including Lady MacBeth in “MacBeth,” Carmen in “Carmen,” and Bess in “Porgy and Bess.” She later returned to the White House for President Ronald Reagan’s (1911–2004) first inauguration in 1981. Though Bumbry was known as a mezzo-soprano, she could also sing soprano, allowing her to perform a wide range of musical roles.
Bumbry founded the Grace Bumbry Black Musical Heritage Ensemble, touring and performing spirituals and other traditional Black music. After her retirement as a performer in 1997, she became a teacher, as well as a judge for opera competitions. Bumbry’s many honors include a UNESCO Award and the Kennedy Center Honors.
Bumbry on her performance at Bayreuth
“[E]verything that I had learned from my childhood was now being tested. Because I remember being discriminated against in the United States, so why should it be any different in Germany? …I knew what I had to do. I knew that I had to get up there and show them what I’m about. When we were in high school, our teachers – and my parents, of course – taught us that you are no different than anybody else. You are not better than anybody, and you are not lesser than anybody. You have to do your best all the time.” —from a 2021 interview for St. Louis magazine
Tributes to Grace Bumbry
Full obituary: The New York Times
