Bible, Frances

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Bible, Frances

Bible, Frances, American mezzo-soprano; b. Sackets Harbor, N.Y., Jan. 26, 1927. She studied with Belle Julie Soudant and Queena Mario at the Juilliard School of Music in N.Y. (1939–47). She made her operatic debut as the Shepherd in Tosca at the N.Y. City Opera on Oct. 7, 1948, subsequently attaining a prominent place on its roster, singing principal roles there regularly until 1977. She was later a teacher (1979–82) and artist-in-residence (1982–83) at Rice Univ. in Houston. She was best known for her trouser and contemporary roles.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire