Simon Estes facts for kids
Simon Estes is a famous opera singer from America. He was born on March 2, 1938. He sings with a deep voice called a bass-baritone. Simon Estes became well-known around the world starting in the 1960s.
He has performed in many of the world's biggest opera houses. He also sang for important leaders like presidents and popes. Estes was one of the first Black opera singers to become very successful. He helped break down racial barriers in the world of opera.
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Early Life and Learning
Simon Estes was born in Centerville, Iowa. His father was a coal miner. His grandfather was a former slave. Simon was one of five children. His family was very active in their local church. This is where he first started singing. He continued to sing in church and school as he grew up.
In 1957, Estes went to the University of Iowa. He first planned to study medicine. Then he changed his mind to psychology and religion. Finally, he decided to study music. This happened because a teacher named Charles Kellis heard him sing. Estes was the first Black singer in the university's "Old Gold Singers" group. Kellis became his first voice teacher and taught him about opera. After college, Estes went to the Juilliard School in 1964 to study more. People in Iowa helped raise money for him to go.
His Amazing Career
Many Black artists of Estes's time went to Europe. This was because there was less racial prejudice there than in the United States. In 1965, he sang in his first professional opera. He played Ramfis in Aida in Berlin, Germany. People really liked his performance.
The next year, he won a bronze medal at a big music competition in Moscow. This led to an invitation from President Lyndon Johnson to sing at the White House in 1966. Soon, many major opera houses in Europe wanted him to perform.
Singing in Europe
Estes was very busy singing in European opera houses in the late 1960s and 1970s. He was especially praised for his roles in operas by Richard Wagner. He sang at famous places like La Scala in Italy and Covent Garden in London. He also performed at important music festivals.
In 1978, he made history. He became the first Black man to sing a main role at the famous Bayreuth Festival in Germany. He sang the lead role in Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer. This was a huge success for him. He sang at Bayreuth for six years in a row. He returned in 1985 to sing the same role again. This performance was recorded and is still considered one of the best.
Coming Home to America
Even though Estes was a star in Europe, many big American opera houses did not hire him much in the 1970s. He sang small roles at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1971. The Metropolitan Opera in New York City did not even try to hire him in the 1960s.
However, the San Francisco Opera (SFO) was more welcoming. He sang several good roles there in 1967. He returned to the SFO many times. He sang roles like Ramfis in Aida and the Dutchman in The Flying Dutchman.
Metropolitan Opera Debut
In 1981, Estes finally got an offer to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. He accepted the offer. Leontyne Price, the first Black female star at the Met, warned him. She told him it would be even harder for him as a Black man. She said, "You are a threat."
But the audience and critics loved Simon's first performance at the Met. This was on January 4, 1982. He sang Hermann in Wagner's Tannhäuser.
Estes sang at the Met for the next six years. He played roles like Amfortas in Wagner's Parsifal. In 1985, he sang Porgy in the Met's first show of Porgy and Bess. In 1986, he sang Wotan in a new production of Wagner's Ring Cycle. His most memorable moment at the Met was singing with Leontyne Price in her farewell performance in 1985. This was shown live on national television.
Helping Others
More recently, Estes has focused on helping people with HIV/AIDS. He leads a group of artists who use music and art to teach about prevention. They also work to reduce the unfair treatment linked to the disease.
In 2010, he sang at the FIFA Gala Concert in South Africa during the World Cup. There, he learned about the growing problem of malaria. He decided to help fight this illness too.
In 2013, the Simon Estes Foundation started a program called "Iowa Students Care." This program encourages students in Iowa to help stop malaria in Africa. They raise money to buy special bed nets for African children. This campaign works with the United Nations Foundation. They also sell a CD called "Save the Children, Save their Lives."
In 2017, Estes performed for a non-profit group at Carnegie Hall. He played King Philip in parts of the opera Don Carlos.
As a Teacher
Simon Estes is currently a visiting Professor of Music at Des Moines Area Community College. Before that, he taught at Wartburg College in Iowa. He gives voice lessons there when he is in town. He also performs in their Christmas concert. He is also a distinguished artist at Iowa State University. He has received many honorary degrees, including one from Iowa State University. He was also named a distinguished former student of the University of Iowa.
Personal Life
In 1980, Estes married Yvonne Baer. They had three daughters: Jennifer, Lynne, and Tiffany. They later divorced after 21 years. In 2001, Estes married Ovida Stong, a nurse.
Recordings
Simon Estes has made many recordings of his opera performances and other music. Some of his notable recordings include:
- Haydn: Harmoniemesse
- Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer
- Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette
- Bizet: Carmen
- Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (excerpts)
- Spirituals
- Verdi Arias
- Mozart: Requiem
- Beethoven: Ninth Symphony
Awards and Honors
- 1965 — Third Prize, ARD International Music Competition, Munich
- 1966 — Bronze Medal, International Tchaikovsky Competition, Moscow
- 1988 — United States Constitution Bicentennial Medal
- 1996 — Iowa Award (Iowa's highest citizen honor)
- 2004 — Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Award, New York
- 2012 — Gold Medal of Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain
- 2021 — Robert D.Ray Iowa Character Counts Award.
See also
In Spanish: Simon Estes para niños
