Who are well-known Black female opera singers?
The above list is just a start. Mattiwilda Dobbs was the first African-American to sing in La Scala, first coloratura at The Met….that counts for something! Marian Anderson unfortunately did not have the chance to do much opera on stage but she had one of the greatest voices of the 20th century. Following in their footsteps were Betty Allen, Reri Grist, Barbara Hendricks, Grace Bumbry, Shirley Verrett, Carmen Balthrop, Florence Quivar, Leona Mitchell, and now Denyce Graves, Anita Johnson, Harolyn Blackwell…the world is blessed by their artistry and grace. For black female singers of the 19th century (yes!) get Rosalyn Story’s book And, So I Sing.
