Leontyne Price

Mary Violet Leontyne Price (born February 10, 1927) is an American soprano who was the first African American soprano to achieve international recognition. She began a lengthy relationship with the Metropolitan Opera in 1961, when she was the first African American to be a major performer. She sang at the world's biggest opera houses, including the Royal Opera House, the San Francisco Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and La Scala, where she was the first African American to sing a leading part. She was most known for her portrayal of the main role in Verdi's Aida.

Leontyne Price was more than simply a soprano vocalist; she was a true opera singer. She was the genuine article! She possessed a wonderful deep rich voice, which she utilized with intellect and feeling, and she was one of the finest exponents of Verdi's operas. To discover her equal, look to Renata Tebaldi, Claudia Muzio, Rlizabeth Rethberg, and Rosa Ponselle.

Awards:

• Grammy Awards (Nominations: 16)
• Primetime Emmy Award (Nominations: 4)
• Kennedy Center Honors (Wins: 1)