Felicia Weathers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Felicia Weathers
Weathers at a 1976 German charity event
Born	(1937-08-13)August 13, 1937 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Education	Indiana University School of Music
Occupation	Operatic soprano

Felicia Weathers is an amazing American singer known for her powerful voice in opera and concerts. She was born on August 13, 1937. Felicia Weathers became famous around the world for her incredible talent.

Early Life and Education

Felicia Weathers was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States. When she first started college, she thought about becoming a doctor. She went to Washington University in St. Louis. However, after a year, she realized her true passion was music.

Discovering Her Musical Talent

She decided to switch her studies to music at Lincoln University (Missouri). Her talent was quickly noticed. In 1957, she won second place in a big competition called the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. This was a huge step for her.

Studying Voice at Indiana University

Felicia Weathers then went to the Indiana University School of Music. There, she learned from famous voice teachers like Dorothee Manski and Charles Kullman. This training helped her develop her beautiful singing voice even more.

A Global Opera Star

After finishing her studies, Felicia Weathers moved to Europe in 1961. This was where her international career truly began. She performed in many major cities and famous opera houses around the world.

Performing Around the World

She sang in places like Zurich, Vienna, Munich, Berlin, and Paris. She also performed in Oslo, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. Some of the most famous opera houses she sang in include The Royal Opera in London and La Scala in Milan, Italy. She also performed in the United States at the Santa Fe Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Famous Opera Roles

Felicia Weathers was known for her strong performances in many leading opera roles. She played the main character in Salome and Aida. She also starred as Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly. Other important roles included Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and Elisabeth in Don Carlos. She was also a talented concert singer, performing in many recitals.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout her career, Felicia Weathers received many special awards from different countries. These awards recognized her outstanding contributions to music.

International Honors

She received the Sagittario d'oro award, which is a prestigious honor. She also got a national award from King Harald of Norway. In 1972, Indiana University gave her an honorary doctorate in music. This means they recognized her as an expert in her field.

Special Day in Indianapolis

The city of Indianapolis, Indiana, even named a day after her! February 13 is known as "Felicia Weathers Day" in Indianapolis. In Germany, she won the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, an important music award. In 2011, she received the "Lift Every Voice" award from the National Opera Association.

Later Career and Directing

Felicia Weathers continued to perform and share her musical knowledge. Her last full opera performance on stage was in 1999 in Germany. In that show, she sang the role of Chrysothemis in Elektra.

Teaching and Directing

Even after her stage performances, she kept singing in concerts. She also started teaching voice and vocal techniques to new singers. Felicia Weathers also used her experience to direct operas. She directed Madama Butterfly for the Ebony National Opera in New York City. She also directed it for the Heidelberg Oper in Germany. She directed Il trovatore in Philadelphia and Porgy and Bess in Rio de Janeiro.