Ewa PodleÅ› (1952–2024), contralto with a three-octave range 

Ewa PodleÅ› was a Polish opera singer and contralto who was known for her powerful three-octave range and performances on stages across the world.

• Died:e280afJanuary 19, 2024 (Who else died on January 19?)c2
• Details of death:e280afDied in Warsaw, Poland, of lung cancer at the age of 71.
• We invite you to share condolencese280affor Ewa PodleÅ› in oure280afGuest Book.c2

Ewa PodleÅ›’ legacy

Born in Warsaw, Poland, PodleÅ› studied at the Warsaw Academy of Music and made her stage debut in 1975, playing Rosina in Rossini’s c2e2809cThe Barber of Seville.e2809d She rose to prominence in 1977 when she won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. She won further competitions in Geneva and Athens, Greece, that same year, catapulting her to international stardom in opera.

PodleÅ› had major performances at the Grand Theatre in Warsaw in 1984, and that same year made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera (Met) in New York City and the Théí¢tre du Chí¢telet in Paris, where she played Rinaldo in the opera of the same name. For the next 25 years, she would perform on stages across the world, earning accolades for her powerful, flexible voice which spanned more than three octaves.

PodleÅ› made her final performance in 2017, singing in e2809cLa fille du regimente2809d at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain. She continued to teach after her retirement from the stage. PodleÅ› released or appeared on dozens of albums and was widely considered one of the most powerful Polish singers e28093 and opera singers overall e28093 of her generation.

Tributes to Ewa PodleÅ›

Full obituary: The New York Timesc2

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