Frederica von Stade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederica von Stade
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Frederica von Stade, January 19, 1985
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| Born | June 1, 1945 Somerville, New Jersey, United States
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| Alma mater | Mannes School of Music, New York City |
| Occupation | Opera singer (mezzo-soprano) |
| Spouse(s) |
Peter Elkus
(m. 1973; div. 1990)Michael G. Gorman
(m. 1990) |
| Children | 2 |
Frederica von Stade, born on June 1, 1945, is a famous American classical singer. She is best known for her amazing work in opera, which is a type of play where the story is told through music and singing. She also performed in concerts and made over a hundred albums and videos.
Frederica is especially known for singing in operas by composers like Mozart and Rossini. She also loved performing music by French and American composers, especially Jake Heggie. She has received many awards, including being named a "Chevalier" (a special honor) in France and winning the Grand Prix du Disque twice for her recordings. She was also nominated for a Grammy award nine times! Many people consider her one of the best mezzo-sopranos of her time. A mezzo-soprano is a female singer with a voice range between a soprano (the highest female voice) and a contralto (the lowest female voice).
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Early Life and Education
Frederica von Stade was born in Somerville, New Jersey. Her family, friends, and fans often called her "Flicka," which was her childhood nickname. Her father, Charles Steele von Stade, was a US Polo Champion who sadly died in World War II when Frederica was very young.
She started her schooling in Washington D.C. and later moved to New Jersey. At Far Hills Country Day School, she played Nanki-Poo in the musical The Mikado. This was one of her first "trouser roles," which means playing a male character while dressed in pants.
Frederica first discovered opera in 1961 at the Salzburg Festival. After high school, she spent a year studying and working in Paris. Then, she got a job at Tiffany's in New York City. She also started performing in summer plays and singing in nightclubs. In 1966, she joined the Mannes School of Music in New York, where she studied opera with Sebastian Engelberg. He was her most important teacher and mentor for many years.
A Star's Career Begins
In 1969, Frederica did very well in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. This led to her joining the Metropolitan Opera Studio. Soon after, she signed a contract to perform in smaller roles, called "comprimario" roles. She made her big debut at the Met on January 10, 1970, as the Third Boy in Die Zauberflöte. She often played roles like "everybody's page or their maid—I was an operatic domestic," as she once said.
By 1972, Frederica wanted more challenging roles, so she decided to become a freelance singer. This meant she could choose her own performances. She quickly became famous for playing Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), which became her "signature role." She performed this role in famous opera houses in Paris and at the Glyndebourne Festival in England.
Soon, she was singing in the most important opera houses around the world, including Salzburg, Covent Garden in London, La Scala in Milan, and the Vienna State Opera. Her first recording was of Joseph Haydn's Harmoniemesse in 1973. A TV broadcast of Le nozze di Figaro also helped her become a familiar face on television. She even sang for several US Presidents in Washington D.C.!
Famous Roles and Music Styles
Frederica von Stade was known for her graceful appearance and her beautiful, warm mezzo-soprano voice. She was excellent at playing "travesti" roles, which are male characters played by female singers, like Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier. She also played many leading female roles, such as Angelina in La Cenerentola (Cinderella) and Mélisande in Pelléas et Mélisande.
Later in her career, she started playing "character parts," which are older or more complex roles. Her performances covered a wide range of music, from very old baroque music to classical, Romantic, and even modern jazz and pop. She was the first to perform many new operas by composers like Jake Heggie. She also loved musical theater, which started when she was a child listening to her mother's records of songs by George Gershwin.
Besides opera, Frederica was also a busy concert artist, especially in the 1990s and 2000s. She often performed pieces by Mozart, Mahler, and French composers like Debussy and Ravel. She especially loved French mélodies (songs) and became fluent in French. She often performed with pianist Martin Katz.
Frederica von Stade stopped performing full-time in 2010. However, she still makes occasional appearances, especially for charity concerts, judging singing competitions, and teaching young singers.
Personal Life
Frederica von Stade married Peter Elkus, a singer and music teacher, in 1973. They had two daughters, Jenny and Lisa. They divorced in 1990, and Frederica then married Michael Gorman.
Frederica is a Roman Catholic and is very involved in charity work. She supports many programs, especially those focused on education, health, and helping people who are homeless. A major part of her charity work is with the Young Musicians Choral Orchestra. This group helps children from low-income families learn music, get academic support, and develop personally, helping them get into university.
In her free time, Frederica enjoys cooking, gardening, playing golf, sailing, and spending time with her dog, Sadie.
Images for kids
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Frederica von Stade, January 19, 1985
See also
In Spanish: Frederica von Stade para niños
