Leona Mitchell facts for kids
Leona Pearl Mitchell, born on October 13, 1949, in Enid, Oklahoma, is a famous American opera singer. She is known for her powerful voice, called a "spinto soprano." For 18 seasons, she was a main singer at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Leona Mitchell has received many special awards in her home state of Oklahoma. She is part of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame, and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. She also received special degrees from Oklahoma City University and the University of Oklahoma. In 1983, she was honored in the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame.
Her hometown of Enid, Oklahoma, has a street named after her, called Leona Mitchell Boulevard. There is also a special place called the Leona Mitchell Southern Heights Heritage Center and Museum. Oklahoma's Governor Brad Henry even named her the state's Cultural Ambassador.
Early Life and Education
Leona Mitchell started singing when she was very young. She sang in the choir at the Antioch Church of God in Christ in Enid. Her father, Reverend Dr. Hulon Mitchell, was the minister there. Her mother, Dr. Pearl Olive Mitchell, played the piano. Leona was one of 15 children in her family.
She studied music at Oklahoma City University. There, she learned from a teacher named Inez Silberg. After that, she continued her studies at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. Leona Mitchell married Elmer Bush III, and they have one son, Elmer Bush IV.
Amazing Opera Career
In 1973, Leona Mitchell performed for the first time as Micaela in the opera Carmen. This was with the San Francisco Opera. She then made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on December 15, 1975, in the same role.
She sang the role of Bess in the first complete recording of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. For this recording, she won a Grammy Award for "Best Opera Recording." Leona Mitchell has made several recordings and appeared on many television shows. She also helped lead Black Heritage Month for the Oklahoma legislature.
In 1988, Mitchell performed as Liù in the opera Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera. This show was directed by the famous Franco Zeffirelli. She worked with many great music conductors, including Zubin Mehta, Lorin Maazel, James Levine, and Seiji Ozawa.
She was a main soprano singer at the Metropolitan Opera in New York for 18 seasons. She sang in many of the world's most famous opera houses. Some of her roles included Turandot, Aida, Micaela, Manon, Leonora, Mimi, and Musetta. She also performed as Pamina in The Magic Flute and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi.
Leona Mitchell has performed for five U.S. Presidents: Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George H. W. Bush. She also sang for many important people like Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and Bishop Desmond Tutu.
On July 5, 1986, she sang at a special event for the 100th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. This event was held by the New York Philharmonic in Central Park and was shown live on ABC Television. She sang "Un bel dì vedremo" from the opera Madama Butterfly. She also sang the American spiritual song "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." She performed with each of the famous Three Tenors: Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, and José Carreras.
She appeared on popular TV shows like The Merv Griffin Show, The Dick Cavett Show, and The Jerry Lewis Telethon.
Videography
- The Metropolitan Opera Centennial Gala, Deutsche Grammophon DVD, 00440-073-4538, 2009
- Puccini: Turandot / Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Grammonphon DVD, 073-058-9, 1989
See also
In Spanish: Leona Mitchell para niños
