Sandra Warfield
Sandra Warfield (June 8, 1921 – June 29, 2009) was an American operatic mezzo-soprano who performed with New York City's Metropolitan Opera from the 1950s through the 1970s.
She was born in Kansas City, Missouri on June 8, 1921, as Flora Jean Bornstein and studied music there at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music (which later became a division of the University of Missouri–Kansas City). She made her stage debut with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera during the 1940s.[1] In 1950 she portrayed Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus at the Chautauqua Opera.
Warfield first appeared on the stage of
Her performances at the Met included Ulrica in
Following her opera retirement, Warfield began cabaret singing, at such venues as Manhattan's Don't Tell Mama. Warfield told The New York Times how she was greatly satisfied with cabaret, which allowed her to "express not only the sadness, gladness and hate in opera, but the smallest emotions".[1]
Personal
Her first marriage to Frank Warfel, which ended in a divorce, became the source of the last name she adopted as a performer. Her second marriage, to James McCracken, ended with his death in April 1988, described by The New York Times as "the most successful dramatic tenor yet produced by the United States".[1]
Warfield and McCracken co-wrote the 1971 memoir A Star in the Family, edited by Robert Daley and published by Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.[1]
A resident of Manhattan's Upper East Side, Warfield died at age 88 on June 29, 2009, at Lenox Hill Hospital, due to complications of a stroke. She was survived by a daughter, a stepson, and a grandson.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Fox, Margalit. "Sandra Warfield, Opera and Cabaret Singer, Dies at 88", The New York Times, July 4, 2009. Accessed July 5, 2009.
- ^ Campbell, Mary. "There may be problems when opera stars marry", The Free Lance–Star, January 18, 1972. Accessed July 5, 2009.
- ^ Crutchfield, Will. "James McCracken, Lauded Tenor And Pillar of the Met, Dies at 61", The New York Times, May 1, 1988. Accessed July 5, 2009.
External links
- Warfield, Sandra (Mezzo Soprano) – Metropolitan Opera performance record on the MetOpera Database
- Paul Suter (2005). "Sandra Warfield". In Andreas Kotte (ed.). OCLC 62309181.
- Interview with Sandra Warfield, March 23, 1988
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