Lillian Evanti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lillian Evanti |
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Lillian Evanti in France in 1926
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Annie Wilson Lillian Evans |
| Born | August 12, 1890 Washington, D.C. |
| Died | December 6, 1967 (aged 77) |
| Occupation(s) | Opera Singer |
| Instruments | Soprano |
| Years active | 1925–1945 |
Lillian Evanti (born August 12, 1890 – died December 6, 1967) was an amazing African American opera singer. She made history as the first African American to sing with a big European opera company.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lillian Evanti was born in Washington, D.C.. Her father, W. Bruce Evans, was the first principal of Armstrong Manual Training School. Her grandfather, Henry Evans, was born free in North Carolina. He later moved to Ohio and helped people escape slavery through the Underground Railroad.
Even though Lillian loved music, she first went to Miner Teachers College in 1908. This college, now part of the University of the District of Columbia, trained Black elementary school teachers. There, she met Georgia Douglas Johnson, who became a famous poet. Lillian later asked Georgia for help with writing songs.
Lillian then earned a music degree from Howard University. At her graduation in 1917, she sang songs in French, German, and English. This performance caught the attention of Black newspapers across the country.
European Debut and Success
With her husband's support, Lillian traveled to Paris in 1924. She wanted to start her opera career there. To sound more European, she combined her maiden name "Evans" with her married name "Tibbs." This created her new stage name, Evanti.
As a Black classical singer in America, it was hard to find success outside the Black community. Lillian hoped to find her true voice in France. In Paris, she studied singing with a French soprano named Gabrielle Ritter-Ciampi.
In 1925, Lillian made her debut in the opera Lakmé in Nice, France. She sang alongside Marian Anderson at the Belasco Theatre in 1926. Even though she was praised in Europe, only Black newspapers in America reported her success.
In 1925, Lillian told The Chicago Defender about some prejudice she faced in France. She said that "distinguished Parisians" understood Black people and that "there is no such thing as color prejudice" among the upper classes. She shared a story about performing for the Salmon family, who she felt understood the "race question in America."
Growing Fame and Challenges
As Lillian's fame grew, she sang opera in Toulon, Montpelier, and Monte Carlo. In 1926, she was a guest artist with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Finally, in 1927, she was invited to sing in Paris.
The Chicago Defender praised her performance in Paris in 1927. They wrote that she was "an artist of rare ability." During her time in Europe, Lillian returned to Washington every summer. She gave concerts there, performing spirituals and works by famous composers like Handel and Bellini. Some "white" newspapers began to notice her, but they often did not mention that she was Black.
As Lillian's career became more demanding, her marriage faced difficulties. Her husband, Roy Tibbs, who had supported her career, began to resent her success. In 1925, Lillian found that Roy had moved out and was very ill. After helping him recover, she returned to France. Two years later, she came back to an empty house.
Lillian decided to ask for separate financial support from Roy. In 1927, The New York Amsterdam News reported that she wanted to return to him, but he refused. The Supreme Court of the District of Columbia granted her request. Roy Tibbs was ordered to pay child support each month. After her divorce, Lillian continued to travel and perform with her mother and son. She toured throughout Europe and South America.
Return to America
In 1932, Lillian was invited to audition for the Metropolitan Opera Company in America. She left Europe at the peak of her career to sing in her home country. Sadly, they refused to offer her a contract. Despite her European success, America's top opera house denied her a stage because of racial segregation. She auditioned two more times, even at age 56, but was never offered a contract.
Still, Lillian continued to sing in the United States from 1932 to 1935. She received much praise for her beautiful voice. She even gave a private concert at the White House for Eleanor Roosevelt and her friends.
In 1943, she performed on the Watergate Theater barge on the Potomac River. The next year, she appeared at The Town Hall (New York City). In 1945, she was highly praised for her role as Violetta in Verdi's La traviata. This performance was produced by the National Negro Opera Company. Lillian hoped that more Black people would become interested in opera. She even translated the role of Violetta into English to help audiences understand it better.
Later Life and Legacy
Lillian continued to give concerts and recitals across the country. In the 1940s, she started spending more time composing music. She worked with the famous blues composer W.C. Handy. Handy Brothers published several of Lillian's songs, including "The Mighty Rapture" and "The Twenty-third Psalm." Eventually, she started her own music publishing company, the Columbia Music Bureau, in Washington.
In 1963, Lillian walked with her friend Alma Thomas in the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. She was also a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.
After World War II, Lillian's life changed a lot. Her husband, mother, and brother all passed away within five years. This sad time, along with fewer professional demands, allowed Lillian to spend more time with her son, his wife, and her two grandchildren. Even though she no longer sang on big opera stages, Lillian stayed involved in the music scene in Washington, D.C. She shared her love for music with the "Evanti Chorale."
Family and Home
Lillian married Roy W. Tibbs, who was a director of the Coleridge-Taylor Society. This was an African-American chorus in Washington D.C., named after the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. They lived at 1910 Vermont Avenue in the Shaw Neighborhood of Northwest, Washington, D.C.. This house is now known as the Evans-Tibbs House and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Lillian and Roy had a grandson, Thurlow E. Tibbs, Jr., born in 1952.
