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 (born August 13, 1937) is a very talented American singer. She is famous for her amazing voice as a soprano in the world of opera and concert performances.

Early Life and Music Journey

Felicia Weathers was born in St. Louis, Missouri. At first, she thought about a career in medicine. But after one year at Washington University in St. Louis, she changed her mind. She decided to follow her passion for music.

She then went to Lincoln University (Missouri) to study music. In 1957, she showed her talent by placing second in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. This was a big step for her career!

Learning to Sing

Felicia continued her music studies at Indiana University School of Music. There, she learned from famous voice teachers. These included Dorothee Manski, Charles Kullman, and Frank St. Leger. They helped her develop her incredible singing voice.

A Star on the World Stage

In 1961, Felicia Weathers moved to Europe. She quickly became a well-known opera singer. She performed in many famous cities and opera houses.

Some of these places included Zurich, Vienna, Munich, Berlin, and Paris. She also sang at The Royal Opera in London and La Scala in Milan. In the United States, she performed at the Santa Fe Opera and the Metropolitan Opera.

Famous Opera Roles

Felicia Weathers was known for her powerful performances. She sang the main roles in many popular operas. These included Salome by Richard Strauss and Aida by Verdi. She also starred as Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly by Puccini.

Other important roles were Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni and Elisabeth in Verdi's Don Carlos. She was also a talented recitalist, meaning she gave concerts where she sang songs with a piano.

Working with Great Conductors

One of her biggest supporters was the famous conductor Herbert von Karajan. He recognized her amazing talent. Working with such a respected conductor helped her career even more.

Awards and Special Honors

Felicia Weathers has received many important awards from around the world. These awards celebrate her incredible contributions to music.

• She won the Sagittario d'oro award.
• She received a national award from King Harald of Norway.
• In 1972, Indiana University gave her an honorary doctorate in music. This is a special degree that honors her achievements.
• The city of Indianapolis, Indiana, even named February 13 "Felicia Weathers Day" in her honor!
• In Germany, she received the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis, which is a major music award.
• In 2011, she was given the "Lift Every Voice" award by the National Opera Association.

Later Career and Directing

Felicia Weathers gave her last staged opera performance in 1999. This was in Germany, where she sang the role of Chrysothemis in Elektra.

Even after that, she continued to sing in concerts. She also shares her knowledge by teaching voice and vocal techniques to new singers.

Directing Operas

Besides singing, Felicia Weathers has also directed operas. This means she was in charge of how the opera was performed on stage.

• She directed Madama Butterfly for the Ebony National Opera in New York City.
• She also directed Madama Butterfly for the Heidelberg Oper in Germany.
• She directed Il trovatore in Philadelphia.
• She directed Porgy and Bess in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.