Vera Little facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vera Little
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| Born |
Vera Pearl Little
December 10, 1928 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Died | October 24, 2012 (aged 83) Berlin, Germany
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| Other names | Vera Little-Augustithis |
| Education | Talladega College |
| Occupation | Operatic mezzo-soprano |
| Organization | Deutsche Oper Berlin |
| Title | Kammersängerin |
| Relatives | Booker Little (brother) |
Vera Pearl Little-Augustithis (December 10, 1928 – October 24, 2012) was an amazing American opera singer. She was known for her powerful voice, called a mezzo-soprano. Vera Little sang with the Deutsche Oper Berlin in Germany for over 40 years.
She performed in many important opera roles around the world. Vera Little also helped create new operas by Hans Werner Henze. These included Der junge Lord in 1965 and Die Bassariden in 1966.
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Early Life and Music Training
Vera Little was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States. She loved music from a young age. In 1950, she won a big opera competition in Munich, Germany.
After finishing college at Talladega College in Alabama in 1952, she moved to Paris. She studied music there with a special scholarship called a Fulbright Scholarship. She continued her studies in other European cities like Rome and Copenhagen.
A Star in Berlin
In 1958, a famous director named Carl Ebert invited Vera Little to Berlin. She joined the "Städtische Oper Berlin," which is now called the Deutsche Oper Berlin. She stayed with this opera company for more than four decades.
One of her biggest successes was in 1963. She played the main role in Bizet's famous opera Carmen. Vera Little also performed in the very first show of Hans Werner Henze's opera Der junge Lord in 1965. She played the character Begonia.
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International Performances and Honors
Vera Little made history in 1959. She was the first African American singer to perform at the Vatican. She sang a Bach cantata for Pope John XXIII. This performance made her famous around the world.
In 1966, she sang at the Salzburg Festival. This was for the first show of Henze's opera Die Bassariden. She also recorded a role in Donizetti's opera Anna Bolena in 1967.
In 1970, Vera Little received a special honor. She was given the title Kammersängerin. This title is given to very important opera singers in Germany. In 1973, she finally performed in her hometown of Memphis. She sang in Verdi's opera Un ballo in maschera.
Beyond the Stage
Besides singing, Vera Little also loved to write. She wrote many poems. Some of her poems were even turned into music by the composer Boris Blacher. She also wrote a book about her life and career in 1999.
Vera Little passed away in Berlin in 2012. She was 84 years old.
