Gwendolyn Killebrew facts for kids

Gwendolyn Killebrew (born August 26, 1941 – died December 24, 2021) was an amazing American opera singer. She was known for her powerful voice, which could sing both as a contralto (a very low female voice) and a mezzo-soprano (a middle-range female voice). She performed all over the world, including famous places like the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Bayreuth Festival in Germany.

She even sang in a brand new opera when the Kennedy Center opened in Washington, D.C. For many years, she was a main singer at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Germany. Later in her life, she taught music to others.

Growing Up and Learning Music

Gwendolyn Killebrew was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 26, 1941. She loved music from a young age. She studied piano and horn at Temple University in Philadelphia. In 1963, she earned a degree in music education. She also worked as a music teacher and helped people with music therapy. Later, she went to the famous Juilliard School in New York to study singing.

Her Amazing Opera Career

Gwendolyn Killebrew started her opera journey by winning competitions. In 1966, she won a big award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. This led to her joining the Metropolitan Opera (often called the Met) in New York in 1967.

First Performances and Famous Roles

Her first performance at the Met was as Waltraute in Wagner's opera Die Walküre. She sang alongside very famous singers like Birgit Nilsson. This performance was even broadcast live on the radio! She also performed as a guest singer at other major opera houses, including the San Francisco Opera.

In 1968, she sang the main role of Carmen in Bizet's opera Carmen in Munich, Germany. This is a very popular and challenging role for a mezzo-soprano. She sang Carmen again at the Met in 1979.

Singing at Special Events

Gwendolyn Killebrew was chosen for important events. On September 10, 1971, she performed in the very first show at the new opera house of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. This was a new opera called Beatrix Cenci. She also sang at the famous Salzburg Festival in Austria.

Her Home at Deutsche Oper am Rhein

From 1976 to 2006, Gwendolyn Killebrew was a main singer at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Germany. Even after 2006, she continued to perform there as a guest. Her voice was special because she could sing both very low parts (contralto) and middle-range parts (mezzo-soprano). She often performed in new and modern operas.

Some of her roles there included:

• Mrs. Quickly in Verdi's Falstaff
• Annina in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier
• Isabella in Rossini's L'italiana in Algeri
• Maddalena in Verdi's Rigoletto
• Azucena in Verdi's Il trovatore

In 1988, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein gave her the special title of Kammersängerin. This is an honor for a great singer. In 2011, she was made an honorary member of the opera house.

Performing at the Bayreuth Festival

Starting in 1978, Gwendolyn Killebrew also performed at the famous Bayreuth Festival in Germany. This festival is dedicated to the operas of Richard Wagner. She sang in the Jahrhundertring, which was a special performance of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen for its 100th anniversary. She appeared as Schwertleite in Die Walküre and as Waltraute in Götterdämmerung. These performances were even filmed!

Recordings and Teaching

Gwendolyn Killebrew made several recordings of her performances. In 1970, she recorded the main role in Handel's opera Tamerlano. Her voice was described as strong and powerful. She also recorded Dvořák's opera Rusalka and Mahler's Third Symphony.

After she stopped performing on stage, Gwendolyn Killebrew became a music educator. She taught master classes and gave private lessons, sharing her amazing knowledge and experience with new singers.

She passed away in Düsseldorf, Germany, on December 24, 2021, at the age of 80.