Gloria Davy in 1958, photographed by Carl Van Vechten
Born
(1931-03-29)March 29, 1931
Brooklyn, New York City
Died
November 28, 2012(2012-11-28) (aged 81)
Geneva, Switzerland
Occupation
Singer
Gloria Davy (March 29, 1931 – November 28, 2012)[1] was a Swiss soprano of American birth who had an active international career in operas and concerts from the 1950s through the 1980s. A spinto soprano, she was widely acclaimed for her portrayal of the title role in Verdi's Aida, a role she performed in many of the world's top opera houses. She was notably the first black artist to perform the role of Aida at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1958. While she performed a broad repertoire, she was particularly admired for her interpretations of 20th-century music, including the works of Richard Strauss, Benjamin Britten and Paul Hindemith.
Davy was part of the first generation of African-American singers to achieve wide success and is viewed as part of an instrumental group of performers who helped break down the barriers of racial prejudice in the opera world. She first drew notice in 1952 when she won the Marian Anderson Award, and then as Bess on an international tour of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess from 1954 until 1956. Concert and opera engagements with major orchestras and opera houses in the United States and Europe soon following. In 1959 she married Swiss stockbroker Herman Penningsfield; at which point she left New York to reside in Geneva, Switzerland. After this point her singing career was mainly based in Europe, with only occasional appearances in the United States.
After 1973, Davy's career shifted from opera towards concert work; although she occasionally still performed stage roles. From 1984 to 1997 she taught on the voice faculty at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University while still maintaining her home in Geneva. She died in Geneva at the age of 81.
^"Gloria Davy, First African-American to Sing Aida at the Met, Dies at 81". The New York Times. December 10, 2012.
GloriaDavy (March 29, 1931 – November 28, 2012) was a Swiss soprano of American birth who had an active international career in operas and concerts from...
dormitory for student nurses. He entered and, using only a knife, killed GloriaDavy, Patricia Matusek, Nina Jo Schmale, Pamela Wilkening, Suzanne Farris...
embarked on an international tour, with LeVern Hutcherson as Porgy and GloriaDavy as Bess. The production first performed in Venice, Paris, and London...
in leading roles at the Met: baritone Robert McFerrin (1955), soprano GloriaDavy (1956), and soprano Mattiwilda Dobbs (1958). However, none of them lasted...
June 9, June 11 Seattle Symphony production of Verdi's Aida, featuring GloriaDavy, Sandor Konya, Irene Dalis, Robert Merrill, and Jan Rubeš June 10 Josh...
impropriety in 2003 Gloria Davis, character in Cannibal Ferox Gloria Davis, character in Lullaby of Broadway (film) GloriaDavy, Swiss singer This disambiguation...
a concert version by the American Opera Society in October 1957 with GloriaDavy the title role and Simionato as Giovanna Seymour for performances at...
sing a leading role in 1955. She was soon followed by Robert McFerrin, GloriaDavy, Mattiwilda Dobbs, Leontyne Price, George Shirley, Grace Bumbry, Shirley...
- Teatro Monumental, Buenos Aires with GloriaDavy 7 August - Teatro Monumental, Buenos Aires with GloriaDavy 20 November - Willemstad, Curaçao, with...
British businessman, Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire (1978–1985). GloriaDavy, 81, American opera singer. José Maria Fidélis dos Santos, 68, Brazilian...
"O, The Chimneys" is Side 2 of the Vox Turnabout LP TV-S 34492, with GloriaDavy, soprano (the first Black soprano to sing the role of Aida at The Metropolitan...
performance engagements took him to the Nationaltheater Mannheim (Salome with GloriaDavy in the title role), to Stuttgart, Cologne, Lyon, to the Milan La Scala...
Belle Julie Soudant; the teacher of opera singers Frances Bible and GloriaDavy. In his early career he was a member of The Belafonte Folk Singers with...
Verdi's Aida; a part she played in 80 performances opposite such Aidas as GloriaDavy, Florence Kirk, Zinka Milanov, Herva Nelli, Delia Rigal, Antonietta Stella...
illegal Vincentian immigrants and long-term visitors from St. Vincent. GloriaDavy, singer Adonal Foyle, retired professional basketball center Ezra Hendrickson...
Williams, Alex (25 January 2024). "Bill Hayes, Enduring Soap Star With a 'Davy Crockett' Hit, Is Dead at 98". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved...
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