Carl Van Vechten, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Marilyn Horne
Mezzo-Soprano (coloratura)
Born January 16, 1934 in Bradford, Pennsylvania, United States (92 years old)
Opera
Marilyn Berneice Horne is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer. She specialized in roles requiring beauty of tone, excellent breath support, and the ability to execute difficult coloratura passages. She is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors, and has won four Grammy Awards.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
7 Signature Roles5 Principal Houses
Spotlight
Career Trajectory
Marilyn Horne began her career in the 1950s as a mezzo-soprano in musical theatre and concert work before making her operatic debut in 1954, gradually establishing herself as a specialist in the bel canto repertoire. Her breakthrough came in the 1960s and 1970s when she became the definitive interpreter of Rossini's heroines, performing at the world's leading opera houses and recording extensively for major labels. By the 1980s and beyond, she had secured her legacy as one of the greatest singers of her era, reviving an entire repertoire and influencing generations of mezzo-sopranos to embrace coloratura technique as a legitimate and artistically rewarding specialization.
Career Highlight
Named principal mezzo-soprano of the Metropolitan Opera, where she performed over 200 performances across multiple decades, becoming the defining voice of the bel canto mezzo-soprano repertoire (1970s–1990s)
At a Glance
- Voice
- Mezzo-Soprano (coloratura)
- Nationality
- American
- Born
- 1934 · Bradford, Pennsylvania, United States
Training & Education
University of Southern California (vocal performance)
Engagements
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