Grace Bumbry: The international barrier-breaking Black St. Louis opera singer

ST. LOUIS – In honor of Black History Month, St. Louis remembers the opera singer Grace Bumbry, an American opera singer considered one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation. She was born on January 4, 1937, in St. Louis.

Bumbry was one of the first African Americans seeking opera parts that were considered non-traditional. She is also known to be a part of the pioneering generation of African American classical singers.

Throughout her career, Bumbry was acclaimed as a recitalist, a musician who performs a solo.

She was praised for her ability to transition between voice categories and she also received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to opera and music.

In the early years:

According to the Grace Bumbry official website, she won her first prize in a local radio contest at 16. This award gave her the opportunity to appear on the radio show called ‘Arthur Godfrey Talent Scout Show’ where she sang ‘O Don Fatale’ from Verdi’s Don Carlo.

Here are some of her notable performances and accomplishments:

• Opera Debut at the Paris Opera (Age 23) – Bumbry made her operatic debut as Amneris in “Aida” at the Paris Opera, becoming the first person of color to sing at the house.

• Engagement at Bayreuth Festival (Age 23) – After her success in Paris, Bumbry was invited to audition in Bayreuth for Wieland Wagner, grandson of the composer Richard Wagner, where she was cast in the role of Venus in “Tannhaeuser.”

• Performance at the White House (Age 24) – In 1962, one year after her Paris Opera debut, Bumbry performed a recital at the White House under the Kennedy Administration, marking the first time an African American opera singer had ever performed there.

• Transition to Soprano Roles (Age 32) – Bumbry transitioned from mezzo-soprano to dramatic soprano roles, including performances such as Salome in “Salome,” Santuzza in “Cavalleria Rusticana,” and Abigaille in “Nabucco.”

• Farewell Concert Tour (Age 71) – In 2007-08, Bumbry embarked upon her farewell concert tour, which began in Hamburg, Germany, and ended in Tokyo, Japan, with sold-out audiences at every venue.

• Founding the Grace Bumbry Vocal and Opera Academy (Age 72) – In 2009, Bumbry founded The Grace Bumbry Vocal and Opera Academy in Berlin, collaborating with the University of Arts to provide master classes for voice and role study preparation.

According to the Associated Press, Bumbry was the first Black singer to perform at Germany’s Bayreuth Festival. She died at the age of 86 on May 7, 2023, in Vienna, Austria.

Bumbry used to live in St. Louis:

Currently, a home that Bumbry once owned is up for sale.

DeBorah and Malik Ahmed, founders of Better Family Life , purchased the home from Grace Bumbry in 1992.

Better Family Life, established in 1983, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community development corporation located in St. Louis, Missouri. The organization focuses on revitalizing inner-city neighborhoods.

Here is a virtual tour of the home Bumbry used to live in:

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