Betty Allen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Betty Allen
Born	Elizabeth Louise Allen (1927-03-27)March 27, 1927 Campbell, Ohio, U.S.
Died	(2009-06-22)June 22, 2009 Valhalla, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Opera singer

Betty Allen (born March 17, 1927 – died June 22, 2009) was an amazing American opera singer. She was a mezzo-soprano, which is a female singing voice type. Betty Allen sang on stages all over the world from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Later in her career, her voice became deeper, like a contralto. You can hear this on her recording of Sergei Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky. She often worked with famous American composers. These included Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, and Virgil Thomson.

Betty Allen was one of the first black opera singers to become widely successful. She helped break down barriers of racial prejudice in the opera world. Leonard Bernstein admired her greatly. He chose her as the main singer for his last shows as music director of the New York Philharmonic in 1973. After her singing career, she became a respected voice teacher and arts leader.

Early Life and Education

Betty Allen was born Elizabeth Louise Allen in Campbell, Ohio. This town is near Youngstown. Her father was a college-educated math teacher. But he had to work in a steel mill. This was because of racial prejudice in the 1930s. Her mother washed clothes for others to earn extra money.

When Betty was 12, her mother passed away from cancer. Her father became very sad. Betty decided to leave home as a young teenager. She then lived in foster homes for the rest of her youth.

In 1943, Betty went to Wilberforce College in Xenia, Ohio. She studied languages there. A tenor singer named Theodor Heimann encouraged her to sing. He also got her to join the school choir. A young Leontyne Price, who also became a famous singer, was in the choir. Price and Allen became good friends.

After college, Betty received a scholarship. She went to Connecticut's Hartford School of Music in 1947. She earned a bachelor's degree in singing. Then she moved to New York City. There, she continued to study music with other teachers.

Starting Her Singing Career in the 1950s

Betty Allen's first big performance was in 1951. She was studying at the Tanglewood Music Festival's Berkshire Music Center. Leonard Bernstein chose her to sing in his Jeremiah Symphony. She sang with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Her opera debut came in 1952. She played St. Theresa II in Virgil Thomson’s Four Saints in Three Acts. This was at the August Wilson Theatre. Later, she recorded a role for the first full recording of this opera. In 1952, she also won the Marian Anderson Award. She won this after winning a singing competition in Philadelphia.

On June 6, 1954, Betty sang in the first-ever performance of Tin Pan Alley. This was a radio show on WNYC. On July 1, 1954, she sang in Die Fledermaus at Lewisohn Stadium. On October 28, 1954, she made her New York City Opera (NYCO) debut. She played Queenie in Show Boat. She then toured France and North Africa. This was part of an artist exchange program.

In 1957, Betty Allen impressed many people. She played the main character in Arthur Honegger's Judith. A critic said her voice was "rich, true mezzo-soprano." He also noted her "brilliant top" and "dark reedy chest tones." He said her singing was "beautifully placed and focused." In 1958, she had her first New York concert. It was at Town Hall and was very well received.

Singing Success in the 1960s and 1970s

On May 5, 1960, Betty Allen began working with Leonard Bernstein. She also started her long partnership with the New York Philharmonic. She was a regular guest singer with them until 1975. She sang in many important works. These included pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Beethoven, and Mahler. She returned for one last show with the orchestra in 1986.

Betty Allen sang in many operas during this time. In 1961, she performed in La sonnambula with Joan Sutherland. She also sang in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress in 1962. She performed in Gaetano Donizetti's Maria di Rohan in 1963. That same year, she sang in Handel's Semele.

In 1964, Betty Allen had a big success. She played Jocasta in Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex in Buenos Aires. Two years later, she made her San Francisco Opera debut. She played Azucena in Il trovatore. She sang this role again in 1971. She also performed at the Canadian Opera Company and the Washington National Opera.

From 1973 to 1975, she was a main singer at the New York City Opera. Her roles included Azucena and Mistress Quickly in Falstaff. She also sang Jocasta in Oedipus rex.

Betty Allen made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera on February 20, 1973. She sang the Commère in Four Saints in Three Acts. In 1975, she played Monisha in the first full stage production of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha. She performed this role again in Washington D.C. and New York City.

She was also very active as a concert singer around the world. She appeared at many music festivals. She sang with famous orchestras like the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Boston Symphony. Her concert work led her to sing with many well-known conductors. She performed in concerts across North and South America, Europe, and Asia.

Later Life and Career

Betty Allen's singing career ended early. She had ongoing lung problems. She believed this was from growing up near steel mills in Ohio. She still made a few concert appearances in the 1980s. But her opera career finished by the late 1970s.

From 1969 until her death, she taught at the Manhattan School of Music. She also taught at the Curtis Institute of Music and the North Carolina School of the Arts.

In 1979, Betty Allen became the executive director of the Harlem School of the Arts. She later became its president in 1992. In 1989, she was the first American to teach a masterclass at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. This was part of a cultural exchange program. She also judged many singing competitions. Betty Allen passed away in Valhalla, New York, at 82 years old.

She was also a member of the boards of many arts groups. These included Carnegie Hall and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. She helped lead the Harlem Arts Advocacy Coalition. She was also part of the New York City Advisory Committee for Cultural Affairs.

Awards and Honors

• Marian Anderson Award (1952)
• Martha Baird Rockefeller Music Fund Award (1953)
• John Hay Whitney Grant (1953)
• Ford Foundation Grant (1954)
• Honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from Wittenberg University (1971)
• Honorary doctorate of music from Union College (1981)
• American Eagle Award from the National Music Council (1988)
• Philadelphia National Bank Distinguished Artist of the Year (1989)
• Exceptional Achievement Award from the Women’s Project and Productions
• First recipient of the ISO Award from the Independent School Orchestras
• Laurel Leaf Award from the American Composers Alliance

See also

In Spanish: Betty Allen para niños