Elinor Ross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elinor Ross
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Elinor Ross, publicity photo, 1960s
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| Born |
Elinor Marilyn Rosenthal
August 1, 1926 Tampa, Florida, U.S.
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| Died | March 6, 2020 (aged 93) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation | Operatic soprano |
| Years active | 1958–1979 |
Elinor Ross (born August 1, 1926 – died March 6, 2020) was an American opera singer. She was known as a dramatic soprano, which means she had a powerful, rich voice. She was especially famous for singing roles in Italian operas.
Elinor Ross had a successful career around the world. She often performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. She also sang in many big opera houses in Europe and the Americas. Some of her most famous roles were Tosca and Turandot, both from operas by Puccini.
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Early Life and Training
Elinor Marilyn Rosenthal was born in Tampa, Florida. She went to Syracuse University to study. Later, she moved to New York to continue her singing lessons. She learned from teachers like William Herman, Stanley Sontag, and Leo Resnick.
Opera Career Highlights
Elinor Ross made her first big opera performance in 1958. This was with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She sang the role of Leonora in the opera Il trovatore. She performed alongside famous singers like Jussi Björling.
In 1959, Elinor Ross sang in the first American performance of "Songs of the Tropical Forest." This was a special event because the composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos, led the orchestra himself.
Performing in the United States
Elinor Ross sang in many opera houses across the United States. These included cities like Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Houston. In 1968, she performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. There, she sang in the first American performance of Verdi's opera Alzira.
She became a regular singer at the Metropolitan Opera (the Met) starting in 1970. Her first role there was the main character in Puccini's Turandot. She stepped in for another famous singer, Birgit Nilsson, on short notice.
At the Met, she performed many important roles. These included:
- Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni
- The main role in Verdi's Aida
- Amelia in Un ballo in maschera
- Elisabetta in Don Carlo
- Lady Macbeth in Macbeth
- Leonora in Il trovatore
- Tosca and Turandot by Puccini
- Gioconda by Ponchielli
- Santuzza in Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana
International Performances
Elinor Ross also had a very successful career outside the United States. In 1963, she made her first European performance in London. She sang in Verdi's Requiem, a famous musical piece.
She performed at important opera houses in Italy, such as La Fenice in Venice. There, she sang as Norma in 1965 and Leonora in 1967. She also sang at the Vienna State Opera in Austria and La Scala in Milan, Italy. La Scala is one of the most famous opera houses in the world.
Her performances took her to cities like Bologna, Palermo, Florence, and Verona in Italy. She also sang at the Berlin State Opera in Germany and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Her wide range of roles included:
- Abigaille in Verdi's Nabucco
- Maddalena in Giordano's Andrea Chénier
- Médée in Cherubini's Médée
Elinor Ross once had the chance to be an understudy for the famous singer Maria Callas. This means she was ready to sing if Callas couldn't. Even though she didn't get to perform that time, she learned a lot. She said she always wanted to sing leading roles in major opera houses, and she achieved that goal.
Later Life
In November 1979, Elinor Ross had to stop performing on stage. She was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a condition that causes temporary weakness or paralysis of the face. She continued to sing in concert performances during the 1980s.
After having surgery to help with her facial muscles, she was able to return to live performances in 1996.
Elinor Ross passed away on March 6, 2020, due to kidney failure.
