Grace Bumbry in Carmen
Shadow and Act
By Sergio Mims
March 7, 2013
By Sergio Mims
March 7, 2013
And NO, I'm NOT talking about Beyonce in Carmen: A Hip-Hopera.
I'm talking about Grace Bumbry who could sing rings around Beyonce (And don't get upset, That's a fact).
So, following up on my piece yesterday about Carmen Jones coming out later this year on blu-ray DVD, it got me to thinking about Bumbry, who starred in a film version of George Bizet's original French opera back in 1967.
A
St. Louis native Bumbry, who, now at age 76, is still very active and
living in Austria, was, in the 60's and 70's, one of the truly great
operatic mezzo sopranos of her day. And like her peer Leontyne Price, broke down many barriers.
For example, back in the early 60's, she sang the role of Venus in Wagner's opera Tannhauser at Bayreuth (the
home and shrine to Wagner which holds an opera festival, performing
only his operas every summer). It was, to put it mildly, a scandal. How
dare a black woman play the role of Venus, to which the director of the
production said: "Show me anyone who can sing it better and I'll hire her".
No one did.
Then, in '67, Bumbry played the role of Carmen for a film version directed by the legendary conductor Herbert Von Karajan, with the Vienna Philharmonic, who, at this time, started making films of his opera and symphony performances.
Once again there was shock and horror that a black woman played the role of Carmen. Dorothy Dandridge (whose singing voice in Carmen Jones was dubbed by a young 18 year old white girl named Marilyn Horne,
who also went on the become one of greatest opera singers ever) was one
thing; but this was something else. And, once again, everyone kept heir
mouths shut when they heard Bumbry sing.
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