Sayão, Bidú (actually, Balduina de Oliveira)

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Sayão, Bidú (actually, Balduina de Oliveira)

Sayão, Bidú (actually, Balduina de Oliveira), noted Brazilian soprano; b. Niteroi, near Rio de Janeiro, May 11, 1902; d. Rockport, Maine, March 12, 1999. She studied with Elena Teodorini in Rio de Janeiro, and then with Jean de Reszke in Vichy and Nice. Returning to Brazil, she gave her first professional concert in Rio de Janeiro in 1925; in 1926 she sang the role of Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the Teatro Municipal there. She made her American debut on Dec. 29, 1935, in a recital in N.Y. On Feb. 13, 1937, she sang Manon at her Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y., earning enthusiastic reviews; remained on its roster until 1952. She retired in 1958. Her finest performances were in lyric roles in bel canto operas; especially memorable were her interpretations of Violetta, Gilda, and Mimi. She also showed her versatility in coloratura parts, such as Lakme; in France, she was described as “a Brazilian nightingale.” She also sang vocal parts in several works of her great compatriot Villa-Lobos. She was a recipient of numerous honors from European royalty, and of the Palmes Academiques from the French government; in 1972 she was decorated a Commandante by the Brazilian government.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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Sayão, Bidú (actually, Balduina de Oliveira)

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