Irene Dalis
Irene Dalis | |
---|---|
Birth name | Yvonne Patricia Dalis |
Born | San Jose, California, US | October 8, 1925
Died | December 14, 2014 San Jose, California | (aged 89)
Genres | Opera |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Irene Dalis (born Yvonne Patricia Dalis; October 8, 1925 – December 14, 2014) was an American mezzo-soprano singer, who had a long international career at the highest levels of world opera. In 1946, she received her bachelor's degree from San Jose State College (now San José State University), where she regarded herself not as a singer, but as a pianist.
Education and early career
Of Greek and Italian descent, Dalis grew up in
Dalis was awarded a
One New York City reviewer, Raymond Erickson, wrote:
Her expert vocalism and musicianship were immediately apparent in the "Veil Song", which Dalis sang better than I have ever heard it sung. In the tricky ensemble with Carlo and Rodrigo in the Queen's gardens, she was just as impressive, and her sweeping, almost torrential handling of O don fatale won her a genuine ovation from the capacity audience. Everywhere, Dalis' acting went hand-in-glove with her singing. Erickson concluded that Dalis's debut was "one of the most exciting in recent seasons"[3]
That was the first of 274 performances with the Met Opera company; it lasted through 20 seasons. She was particularly noted as Amneris in Verdi's
Career highlights
In 1961, Dalis appeared as the first American to sing the role of Kundry in Wagner's
Critical appreciation
One reviewer said of her Kundry:
Her broadcast portrayal is made memorable by the sensuous quality of her middle and upper voice…. she startles with the sheer beauty of her voice and her interpretive subtlety. The luscious timbre, with its seductive shimmer, contains its own magic...Her flexible phrasing and command of text bespeak a singer who inhabits her character to the fullest, achieving a fusion of musical and dramatic elements...Dalis owns a singular combination of vocal and interpretive gifts.[7]
The eminent Birgit Nilsson said of her collegial intelligence:
Irene Dalis was wonderful to interact with: active, alert, but at the same time solicitous, as Isolde’s servant must be. I have had colleagues who ceaselessly tried to convince the audience that they should be the one singing Isolde. Then everything goes wrong and nothing in the relationship works. But here, everything ran perfectly.[8]
Fan appreciation also runs deep. Her home burned down in 1990 and she lost a lifetime's collection of recordings and memorabilia. Unbeknownst to her, a former student quietly reassembled unauthorized recordings of her performances at the Met, San Francisco, Rome, and Bayreuth, and gave them to her as a gift.[9]
Founding and directing Opera San Jose
After retiring from the Met in 1976, Dalis returned to her hometown in California, where San Jose State University offered her the position of Professor of Music. There she developed the Opera Workshop program, which began turning out so many career-level graduate singers that she decided to form the
Irene Dalis Vocal competition
In keeping with her philosophy of encouraging young singers, with the support of an anonymous donor, Dalis established the Irene Dalis Vocal Competition in 2007, which is held in San Jose every spring. Ten finalists compete for $50,000 in cash prizes. IDVC finalists have gone on to significant careers; for instance, Audrey Luna (2009) has sung at the Met,
Awards and honors
Dalis was awarded the prestigious San Francisco Opera Medal in 1998. Her other credits include Principal Artist at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera,
Personal life
In 1957, Dalis married
References
- ISBN 978-0-385-47495-5.
- ISBN 978-0-399-12653-6.
- ISSN 0735-7788.
- ISBN 978-0-935859-92-8.
- ISBN 978-0-8118-1368-6.
- ISBN 978-0-399-12653-6.
- ISBN 978-1-57467-147-6.
- ISBN 978-1-55553-670-1.
- ^ "Thanks to fan, S.J. opera star regains recorded legacy". December 24, 2006. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ Kosman, Joshua (August 29, 2010). "Irene Dalis: grande dame behind Opera San Jose". SFGATE. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Yardley, William (December 18, 2014). "Irene Dalis, Opera Singer and Company Founder, Dies at 89". The New York Times.