Putnam, Ashley (Elizabeth)

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Putnam, Ashley (Elizabeth)

Putnam, Ashley (Elizabeth) , American soprano; b. N.Y., Aug. 10, 1952. She studied flute at the Univ. of Mich., eventually turning to voice (B.M., 1974; M.M., 1975). After graduating, she was an apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera Co. In 1976 she made her operatic debut in the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor with the Va. Opera Assn. in Norfolk. After winning 1st’ prize in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and receiving the Weyerhauser Award (1976), she made her European debut as Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème at the Glyndebourne Festival (1978). On Sept. 15, 1978, she won accolades as Violetta in her N.Y.C. Opera debut. In 1986 she made her first appearance at London’s Covent Garden as Jenûfa. She sang Donna Elvira at her Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. in 1990. In 1995 she appeared as Wagner’s Eva at the Cleveland Opera. She portrayed Thomson’s St. Theresa I at the Houston Grand Opera in 1996. As a concert artist, she appeared with leading U.S. and European orchs., and also gave recitals.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire