Michèle Crider facts for kids
Michèle Crider (born in 1959 in Quincy, Illinois) is a famous American opera singer. She is known as a lirico spinto soprano, which means she has a powerful and beautiful voice. Michèle has performed in many of the world's biggest opera houses. These include the Royal Opera House in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She has also sung in Vienna, Munich, and Berlin. Many famous conductors have led her performances. Today, she teaches singing at the Mozarteum University Salzburg.
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Michèle Crider's Early Life and Training
Michèle Crider grew up in Illinois in a large family with 10 children. She was the first in her family to go to college. She studied music at Culver-Stockton College. Later, she earned a master's degree in singing from the University of Iowa. While there, she performed her first opera role in Madama Butterfly.
Michèle won the District Metropolitan Opera Auditions twice. These are important singing competitions. After her studies in Iowa, she moved to Zürich. There, she continued to train at the studio of the Zurich Opera House.
In 1988, she was a finalist in the Luciano Pavarotti competition. The next year, she won a top prize at the Geneva International Music Competition. This led to her first big role as Leonora in Il trovatore. She also won the International Grand Prix. Michèle has recorded several operas and classical pieces. These include Un ballo in maschera, Mefistofele, and Verdi's Requiem. In 2018, the University of Iowa gave her an honorary doctorate degree.
Singing Around the World
Since 1991, Michèle Crider has sung regularly in the world's most famous opera houses. She has performed at the Royal Opera House in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Other major stages include the San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. She has also sung in Vienna, Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg.
Michèle has also had a successful concert career. She has appeared at big music events like the Salzburg Festival. She has sung in famous halls like the Royal Albert Hall in London and Carnegie Hall in New York. She has worked with many top orchestras. These include the London Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic. She has collaborated with conductors like Riccardo Muti and James Levine.
Memorable Performances
Michèle Crider has performed many important roles throughout her career. In 1997, she sang Verdi's Requiem at the BBC Promenade concerts. She also performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. That same year, she sang in Japan for the first time.
In 1998, she debuted in a new production of Aida at the Dresden Semperoper. She also sang in Un ballo in maschera at the Arena di Verona. She performed Madama Butterfly in Paris and Aida in Munich. Later, she returned to the Vienna State Opera. In 1999, she received praise for her role as Leonora in Il trovatore at the New York Metropolitan Opera.
Michèle continued to perform in major productions. In 1999, she sang Un ballo in maschera in Zurich. She also performed Aida in Florence. She returned to the Metropolitan Opera for Madama Butterfly and Un ballo in maschera. She made her debut in Amsterdam with a new production of Aida.
In 2001, Michèle sang Aida at the San Francisco Opera House. She received the San Francisco Opera Award of Merit. A highlight of her career was her role as Norma at the Vlaamse Opera in Antwerp. In 2003, she debuted as Tosca at the Zurich Opera. She also sang Norma in Essen. She continued to perform Aida and Un ballo in maschera in various cities.
In 2004, Michèle sang Imogene in Bellini's Il pirata. She also made her Carnegie Hall debut. She returned to the Vienna State Opera as Aida. Her signature role of Aida took her to the Staatsoper Berlin and other major houses. She also performed Tosca and Amelia in Zurich.
Her performances in 2005 and 2006 included Tosca in Berlin and Vienna. She returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Aida. She also sang Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana in Hamburg. She performed Aida and Un ballo in maschera in Berlin. She also sang Madama Butterfly for the Berlin State Opera.
Recordings
Michèle Crider has made several recordings. These include Verdi's Requiem from 1996 and 1997. She has also recorded Aida, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, and Leonora in Il trovatore.
Images for kids
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Crider at the Semperoper Dresden, in Aida in 2017
