Gorr, Rita (1926—)

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Gorr, Rita (1926—)

Belgian mezzo-soprano. Born Marguerite Geirnaert on February 18, 1926, in Zelzaete, Belgium.

Sang in Strasbourg Opera (1949–52); made debut at Paris Opéra and Opéra-Comique (1952); debuted at Bayreuth (1958), Covent Garden in Aïda (1959); debuted at Teatro alla Scala debut as Kundry in Parsifal (1960), and Metropolitan Opera (1962).

Belgian mezzo-soprano Rita Gorr, an opera singer of distinction, had an unusually large vocal range which made her equally comfortable as a contralto and mezzo-soprano. Gorr's rich, dark tone made her sound like a natural alto, but her voice had brightness at the top. Many have compared the younger singer Jessye Norman to Gorr who performed in the classical French style. Her acting, which combined humanity with epic stature, was ideal, and her enunciation superb. She made several recordings, including Amneris in Verdi's Aïda with Georg Solti which may be the finest performance of the part on record. French opera fostered a grand tradition which all but disappeared in the 1960s. Rita Gorr was one of the last operatic stars in this tradition.

John Haag , Athens, Georgia