Bumbry, Grace (Melzia)

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Bumbry, Grace (Melzia) (b St Louis, 1937). Amer. mezzo-soprano, later soprano. Début Paris Opéra 1960. Basle Opera 1960–3. Sang at Bayreuth 1961 (Venus in Tannhäuser), being first black singer to do so. NY début (Carnegie Hall) 1962; CG 1963; Salzburg 1964; NY Met 1965. Sang Cassandra in Les Troyens at opening of Opéra Bastille, Paris, 1990. Remarkable Carmen and Salome.

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