Lucine Amara obit

Obituary: Legendary Soprano Lucine Amara Dies at 99

 

She was not on the list.

Legendary soprano Lucine Amara has died at the age of 99.

The American soprano was born on March 1, 1925 in Hartford, Connecticut but was raised in San Francisco. She went on to study at the San Francisco Community Music Center and sang in the chorus of the San Francisco Opera from 1945 to 1946.

She made her concert debut at the War Memorial Opera House in 1946 and continued studying at the Music Academy of the West.

In 1948 she won a contest to appear at the Hollywood Bowl. Eventually, she became a soloist for the San Francisco Symphony singing the title role of “Ariadne auf Naxos” and Britten’s “Albert Herring.”

In 1950 Amara made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the “Voice from Heaven” in Verdi’s “Don Carlo.” That would begin a long association with the company that saw her perform throughout 41 seasons in over 700 performances. She would also sing 56 roles including the roles of Micaëla in “Carmen,” the title role of “Madama Butterfly,” Tatiana in “Eugene Onegin,” Leonora in “Il Trovatore” and “La Forza del Destino,” and the title roles of “Tosca” and “Aida.”

Her relationship with the Met soured in 1976 when the soprano sued the company for discrimination. Amara contended that she was only given a “cover” contract and fewer performances at the age of 51. She also argued that the Met “has tied me up for 40 weeks for many years. I could never get a release to sing anywhere else.” Following the lawsuit her appearances at the Met and with the company were fewer with one or two performances a season. She ended her Met career in 1991.

Throughout her career, she appeared at many leading opera houses, including the Wiener Staatsoper, Glyndebourne Festival, and Edinburgh Festival.

Amara left a couple of recordings including the legenrday “La bohème,” opposite Victoria de los Ángeles, Jussi Björling, and Robert Merrill under Thomas Beecham. She also recorded Elsa in “Lohengrin” under Erich Leinsdorf and Nedda in “Pagliacci” opposite Richard Tucker. Amara also appeared in the Hollywood film “The Great Caruso.”

After retiring the soprano became the Artistic Director of the New Jersey Association of Verismo and taught master classes. In 1989 she was inducted into the Academy of Vocal Arts Hall of Fame. OperaWire interviewed the legend in 2018 and saw a bright future noting, “Seeing young performers go to the Met or to a major company.  That is a thrill for me. I can’t imagine they don’t all find a job. I mean that is wonderful. Because having had a 41-year career at the Met I know how difficult it is to have a career. My thrill is that they can perform anywhere in the world.”

Here is the diva in performances of “Aida” and “Il Trovatore.”

Filmography

Carmen (1952) (TV), Frasquita

The Great Caruso, (1951)