THE DIVA INDEX

From my favorite Tintin comic book story:  "Les bijoux de la Castafiore"  This tempestuous singer is a caricature of a typical opera  Diva.. By the artist Hergé.

Below is a list of female opera singers that I am compiling. This is still "Under Construction". Can you believe that Google does not have a full list of soprano singers? I may be the first one to compile one on this log.

Notice that quite a few of them do NOT have a recording of "Una Voce Poco Fa". Female singers are basically divided into Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto and Contralto. There are finer distinctions as well. We've already mentioned Wagnerian soprano, there is also dramatic soprano, coloratura soprano, soubrette, well, the list is not complete. We will have future programs in which we will compare and contrast these distinctions.

For each entry below. I have provided a link to their profile in Wikipedia. As we further develop this blog, I will add other links as well. I will remind you to go back to this particular posting when the need arises. Again, this alphabetical gazetteer is far from being complete. I am discovering new singers every day!

• Frances Alda (31 May 1879-18 Sept 1952) New Zealand born, Australian-raised soprano.
• June Anderson (30 Dec 1952-) American dramatic coloratura soprano.
• Marian Anderson (27 Feb 1897-8 April 1993) American contralto.
• Julie Andrews (1 Oct 1935-) This famous British screen and stage actress, singer, and author was classically trained and performed in operettas. There are still some odd and rare recordings of her young lovely voice in this genre.
• Irina Arkhipova (2 Jan 1925-11 Feb 2010) Russian mezzo-soprano who became a contralto.
• Cecilia Bartoli (4 Jun 1966-) Italian mezzo-soprano. Coloratura. Rare Baroque roles.
• Erna Berger (19 Oct 1900-14 Jun 1990) German coloratura lyric soprano leggiero. Famous for her Mozart roles.
• Agnes Baltsa (19 Nov 1944-) Greek mezzo-soprano.
• Kathleen Battle (12 Aug 1948) African-American soprano leggiero. More of a concert than an opera singer.
• Hildegard Behrens (9 Feb 1937-18 Aug 2009) German  dramatic soprano. Links: Liebestod
• Teresa Berganza (16 Mar 1935-) Spanish mezzo-soprano. Rossini, Mozart & Bizet.
• Erna Berger (19 Oct 1900- 14 Jun 1990) German coloratura lyric soprano. Queen of Night. Konstanze.
• Lucrezia Bori (24 Dec 1887- 14 May 1960) Spanish lyric soprano.
• Inge Borkh (26 May 1917-) German-born Swiss soprano, the "singing actress".
• Sarah Brightman (14 Aug 1960-) English crossover classical soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer.
• Grace Bumbry (4 Jan 1937- ) African-American. First a mezzo, then a soprano. Bel canto. "The Veil" from Don Carlo.
• Montserrat Caballé (12 April 1933) Spanish soprano. Bel canto. Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, & Verdi.
• Maria Callas (2 Dec 1923-16 Sep 1977) American-born Greek soprano. Billed as a dramatic coloratura soprano, she could also sing mezzo-soprano roles. Opera seria, bel canto and even Wagner (in Italian). In my opinion, the most flexible, talented opera female singer that ever lived. Called "La Divina".
• Charlotte Church (21 Feb 1968-) Welsh singer, actress, songwriter and television performer. Voice of an Angel. Rose to fame on classical performances, mainly sacred arias and traditional songs. 
• Regine Crespin (23 Feb 1927-5 July 2007 ) French diva - dramatic and spinto soprano.
• Toti Dal Monte (27 Jun 1893-26 Jan 1975) physically beautiful Italian soprano leggiero best remembered for her Cio Cio San in Madama Butterfly.
• Diana Damrau (31 May 1971-) German lyric coloratura soprano
• Suzanne Danco (22 Jan 1911-10 Aug 2000) Belgian soprano and mezzo-soprano
• Lisa Della Casa (2 Feb 1919-) Swiss soprano. Mozart and R. Strauss. Lieder. Dubbed the "most beautiful woman on the operatic stage".
• Emmy Destinn (26 Feb 1878-28 Jan 1930) Czech operatic soprano with a strong dramatic and lyrical voice.
• Cristina Deutekom (28 Aug 1931) Dutch. Billed as a dramatic coloratura, she is actually a lyrico spinto with incredible coloratura technique.
• Mariella Devia (12 April 1948-) Italian dramatic coloratura soprano.
• Joyce DiDonato (13 Feb 1969-) American mezzo-soprano. Handel, Mozart & Rossini.
• Emma Eames (13 Aug 1865-13 Jun 1952) American soprano. Lyric soprano. Known for beauty of her voice.
• Geraldine Farrar (28 Feb 1882- 11 Mar 1967) British soprano and actress. Known for her beauty, acting sklls and singing voice.
• Eileen Farrell (13 Feb 1920-23 Mar 2002) American soprano. Featured on my blog: Wagner's Liebestod;
• Kathleen Ferrier (22 Apr 1912-8 Oct 1953) English contralto.
• Kirsten Flagstad (12 Jul 1895-7 Dec 1962) Norwegian Wagnerian (dramatic) soprano. The best Liebestod.
• Olive Fremstad (14 Mar 1871-21 Apr 1951) Swedish American soprano and mezzo-soprano.
• Mirella Freni (27 Feb 1935, surprised about this one) Italian soprano. Verdi and Puccini. Also Mozart and Tchaikovsky. My favorite Mimi.
• Elina Garanca (16 Sep 1976-) Latvian operatic mezzo-soprano
• Amelita Galli-Curci (18 Nov 1882-26 Nov 1963) Italian operatic soprano. Coloratura. Grammophones.
• Mary Garden (20 Feb 1874- 3 Jan1964) Scottish soprano. The "Sarah Bernhardt" of Opera.
• Jeanne Gerville-Réache (26 Mar 1882-6 Jan 1915) French contralto of the Belle-Epoque.
• Angela Gheorghiu (7 Sep 1965-) Romanian soprano
• Edita Grubernova (23 Dec 1946-) Slovak coloratura soprano. Famous for her Queen of Night.
• Marilyn Horne (16 Jan 1934-). American mezzo-soprano coloratura
• Maria Jeritza (6 Oct 1897-10 Jul 1982) Moravian soprano.
• Sumi Jo (22 Nov 1962-) South Korean soprano. Grammy award. Lyric coloratura and bel canto.
• Sena Jurinac (24 Oct 1921) Bosnian operatic soprano.
• Kiri Te Kanawa (6 Mar 1944-). New Zealand soprano. Warm lyric soprano voice. Popular. Mozart, Strauss, Verdi, Handel, & Puccini.
• Marjorie Lawrence (17 Feb1907-13 Jan 1979) athletic Australian Wagnerian soprano - first Brunhilde to ride into the flames as Wagner intended!
• Lilli Lehmann (24 Nov 1848-17 May 1929) German dramatic coloratura soprano.
• Christa Ludwig (16 Mar 1928-). German mezzo-soprano. Now retired. Did masses, symphonic solos, lieder, and oratorios.
• Caterina Mancini (10 Nov 1924) Italian dramatic coloratura, mostly active in Italy during the 1950s.
• Maria Malibran (24 Mar 1908-23 Sep 1936). Paris-born Spanish soprano who could sing mezzo-soprano and contralto too. Most famous soprano of the 19th century. Fiery temperament. Diva. Coloratura techniques. Free interpretations.
• Waltraud Meier (9 Jan 1956) Award-winning German dramatic soprano and mezzo-soprano. Links: Wagner's Liebestod;
• Dame Nelli Melba (19 May 1861-23 Feb 1951) Australian-born soprano. Most famous in Victorian era.
• Anna Netrebko (18 Sep 1971-) Russian born Austrian operatic soprano. Known by fans as "La Belissima". She holds dual citizenship in both Austria and Russia!
• Nan Merriman (28 Apr 1920-).American operatic mezzo-soprano
• Nelly Miricioiu (31 Mar 1952-) British dramatic coloratura soprano.
• Anna Moffo (27 Jun 1932-9 Mar 2006).Italian American lyric-coloratura soprano
• Edda Moser (27 October 1939-) German dramatic soprano, particularly well-known for her Mozart performances.
• Claudia Muzio (7 Feb 1869-24 May 1936) Italian operatic soprano.
• Birgit Nilsson (1937- ) Swedish Wagnerian and dramatic soprano. Powerful voice in the upper range. Sang strong Italian roles too.
• Lilian Nordica (12 Dec 1857-10 May 1914) American dramatic coloratura soprano with a great range.
• Jessye Norman (15 Sep 1945- ) American dramatic soprano. Sings both in the mezzo and soprano range.
• Jarmila Novotna (23 Sep 1907- 8 Feb 1994) Czech soprano.
• Elena Obraztsova (7 Jun 1937- ) Russian mezzo.
• Miriam Pirazzini (1918-) Italian mezzo soprano
• Ewa Podles (26 Apr 1952-) Celebrated Polish contralto
• Rosa Ponselle (22 Jan 1897-26 May 1981) American dramatic coloratura soprano.Versatile. Acclaimed as one of the greatest sopranos in the last 100 years. Collaborated with Caruso in many productions. Could sing other voices as well.
• Roberta Peters (4 May 1930-).American coloratura soprano. My favorite Rosina!
• Lily Pons (12 Apr 1898-13 Feb 1976).French-American coloratura soprano. My favorite Lakme!
• Lucia Popp (12 Nov 1939-16 Nov 1993). Slovak soubrette soprano and later a lyric coloratura,
• Leontyne Price (10 Feb 1927- ) African-American soprano. My favorite Aida!
• Elisabeth Rethberg (22 Sep 1894-6 Jun 1976) German soprano. Sang in Italian too. Most acclaimed for her role as Amelia in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera.
• Leonie Rysanek (14 Nov 1926-7 Mar 1998) Austrian dramatic soprano.
• Erna Sack (6 Feb 1898-2 Mar 1972). German coloratura soprano
• Silvia Sass (12 Jul 1951-).Hungarian soprano, acclaimed for her Verdi roles.
• Elizabeth Schwarzkopf (9 Dec 1915-3 Aug 2006) German-born Austrian/British soprano. One of the most famous sopranos of the 20th century in opera and recital music. Especially acclaimed for her Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, and Wolf repertoires.
• Renata Scotto (24 Feb 1934-).Italian soprano leggiero and opera director. Known for her bel canto roles as well as her Verdi, especially as Violetta in  La Traviata and other verissimo excursions. An exquisite Mimi and Cio Cio San!
• Rita Shane (19??-) American dramatic coloratura soprano.
• Beverly Sills (25 May 1929-2 Jul 2007) American operatic soprano. Leading bel canto stylist competing with Joan Sutherland.
• Giuletta Simionato (12 May 1910-5 May 2010) Italian mezzo-soprano
• Erna Spoorenberg (11 Apr 1925-18 Mar 2004) Dutch soprano leggiero born in Yogaykarta, Java, now a part of Indonesia. Best known for her roles as Juliette, Melisande and Adele from Die Fledermaus.
• Frederica von Stade (1 June 1945-) American mezzo-soprano.
• Teresa Stratas (26 May 1938-) Canadian soprano
• Risë Stevens (11 Jun 1913- ) American operatic mezzo-soprano.
• Conchita Supervia (8-9 Dec 1895-30 Mar 1936) Spanish (Catalan) mezzo-soprano.
• Dame Joan Sutherland (7 Nov 1926- 10 Oct 2010) Australian soprano. One of the greatest, if not, the greatest dramatic coloratura singers. Pavarotti called her the "Voice of the Century". In my personal opinion No. 2 next to Callas. That is only my personal opinion and it is totally subjective. Maria Callas reminds me of my dear departed mother; so who could ever blame me for that?
• Renata Tebaldi (1 Feb 1922- 19 Dec 1922) Italian soprano. known as the "Anti-Callas" Hmmm, interesting!
• Kerstin Thorborg (19 May 1896- 12 Apr 1970) Swedish Wagnerian contralto .
• Tatiana Troyanos (12 Sep 1938-21 Aug 1993) American mezzo of Greek and German descent..
• Shirley Verrett  (31 May 1931-6 Nov 2010) American - both mezzo and soprano.
• Galina Vishnevskaya (25 Oct 1926-) Russian soprano.
• Debora Voigt (4 Aug 1964-) American operatic soprano
• Josepha Weber (1758-29 Dec 1819) A German coloratura soprano who died almost a hundred years before the grammaphone was invented. One can only read what was written about her. She also happened to be Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's sister-in-law and was the first Queen of Night in the Magic Flute!
• Ljuba Welitsch (10 Jul 1913-1 Sep 1996) Bulgarian soprano.
• Dolora Zajick (24 Mar 1952-) American mezzo-soprano from Salem, Oregon!