Grace Bumbry was an American opera singer and the first black woman to perform at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions alongside soprano Martina Arroyo. She was also regarded as possessing the most classical female singing voice of her generation.
Grace Bumbry’s Biography, Wiki and Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Grace Bumbry |
|---|---|
| Birth Date: | January 4, 1937 |
| Age: | 86 years |
| Death Date: | May 7, 2023 |
| Gender: | Female |
| Profession: | Singer, Opera Singer |
| Country: | United States |
| Horoscope: | Capricorn |
| Height: | 5 feet 4 inches (1.63m) |
| Divorce | Erwin Jaeckel |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Birth Place | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Afro-American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Education | Charles Sumner High School, Boston University College of Fine Arts, Music Academy of the West |
| Father | Benjamin Bumbry |
| Mother | Melzia Bumbry |
| Siblings | Charles Bumbry and Benjamin Bumbry |
| Kids | David Lee Brewer |
Grace Bumbry has a lovely voice with a broad range. She was able to produce a distinct plangent tone. She used to have a fiery temperament and dramatic passion when she performed on stage. Grace rose to prominence after playing Venus in Tannhäuser at Bayreuth in 1961.
How much was the Grace Bumbry’s Net Worth and Salary?
Grace’s net worth was believed to be around $2 million at the time of her death. She earned that much as an opera singer in the United States. An American opera singer’s average wage, according to the source, is roughly $86,207. She may have earned the same or more.
Grace Bumbry’s Childhood and Early Life
Grace Bumbry was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 4, 1937. Her solar sign was Capricorn, and she celebrated her birthday on January 4th every year. Grace Melzia Bumbry was her full name. Benjamin Bumbry (father) and Melzia Bumbry (mother) raised her.
Her father worked as a freight handler on the railroad, and her mother was a teacher.Her two brothers’ names are Charles Bumbry and Benjamin Bumbry. She held American citizenship and practiced Christianity. She belongs to the Afro-American ethnic group.
Grace Bumbry’s Educational Qualification
Grace graduated from Mississippi’s Charles Sumner High School. She previously attended Sumner High School in St. Louis. She enrolled in the Boston University College of Fine Arts in 1995 and then attended Northwestern University. Grace began her musical studies at Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West.
Grace Bumbey’s Professional Career | How did she became Famous?
She won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions with soprano Martina Arroyo in 1958, and she made her recital debut in Paris later that year. Bumbry made her Paris Opéra debut in 1960 as Amneris in Verdi’s Aida; that same year, she joined the Basel Opera, where she stayed for four years.Her roles there included Carmen by Bizet, Dalila in Saint-Saens’ Samson et Dalila, Orfeo in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, and Lady Macbeth and Azucena by Verdi.
Grace Bumbry’s Unsuccessful Marriage
Grace was formerly married to Erwin Jaeckel. In 1963, the couple exchanged vows. Erwin quit his job to help Grace, but their relationship deteriorated and the couple separated in 1972. David Lee Brewer was her adopted son.
Grace Bumbry’s Death Cause, Date and Age
Grace breathed her final breath in this world on May 7, 2023, at a Vienna hospital. On October 20, 2022, she was on a trip from Vienna to New York when she began to have a stroke. After a month, her health continued to deteriorate, and she died at the age of 86. Her death was verified by her adopted son and publicist.
In addition, the Metropolitan Opera announced her death in a statement. Andrea Mayer (Greens), Secretary of State for Culture, paid tribute to her, saying:
“Grace Bumbry was an icon of operatic art and a pioneer for generations of opera singers after her. With her legendary debut in Bayreuth in the 1960s, she made a decisive contribution to equality in the opera business . It was an honor for the city and the country that a world star like her chose Vienna as her adopted home.”
Opera Singing Career of Grace Bumbry
- Grace was an opera singer from the United States.
- In 1961, she was cast as Venus in Tannhäuser at Bayreuth.
- She was the first black actress to appear in Tannhäuser, and she was given the title Black Venus.
- In 1963, Grace made her Royal Opera House debut as a princess.
- In 1963, 1964, and 1965, she made her Covent Garden, La Scala, and Metropolitan Opera debuts, respectively.
- She made her debut as Verdi’s Lady Macbeth at the Vienna State Opera in 1964.
- Grace has been in Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades (2013) and Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris (2010).
Songs
Grace has performed numerous songs throughout her singing career. Carmen is one of Grace’s song titles. Samson et Dalila, Op.47, R. 288 / Act 2 – Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix, 21. Air: He Was Despised, Nei giardin del bello, etc.
Awards and Achievements for Grace Bumbry
- Grace has earned the UNESCO Award, the Academy of Music of the West’s Outstanding Alumna Award, Italy’s Premio Giuseppe Verdi,
- and the French government’s Commandeur des Arts et Lettres, among other honors.
- She also received a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording in 1972.
- On December 6, 2009, Grace received the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors.
- She was also honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Grace Bumbry’s Frequently Asked Questions
Grace Bumbry’s height?
She had a height of 5 feet 4 inches. She has captivating dark eyes and lovely curly brown hair.
Was Grace Bumbry a model?
She was an actor as well as an opera singer. She appeared in films such as The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), Carmen (1969), and Ada (1977).
Grace Bumbry is the founder of what?
Grace Bumbry Black Musical Heritage Ensemble was founded by Grace. It was discovered in the late 1990s.
