Claramae Turner Verdi Don Carlo O don fatale

CLARAMAE TURNER VERDI O DON FATALE (live)
Giuseppe Verdi: DON CARLO: O don fatale: Claramae Turner, contralto, with Los Angeles Philharmonic, Arthur Fiedler, conductor (16 IX 1951)
Claramae Turner [28 X 1920 -- 18 V 2013] was noted for her Verdi interpretations, particularly Amneris in AIDA, Azucena in IL TROVATORE and in his MESSA DA REQUIEM. Toscanini chose her for the role of Ulrica in UN BALLO IN MASCHERA, his last complete opera broadcast. Miss Turner began her career with the San Francisco Opera as a chorister in 1940 and appeared in solo roles there in many seasons from 1942 -- 1974. She sang at the Metropolitan Opera 1946 -- 1950, Chicago Lyric Opera 1955 -- 1957, New York City Opera 1953 - 1966 and other opera companies in Canada, North and Central and South America, Mexico and Europe. She created the roles of Madam Flora in Gian-Carlo Menotti's THE MEDIUM and Diana Orsini in Alberto Ginastera's BOMARZO. The contralto was also a distinguished concert and recital artist and appeared frequently with major orchestras across the United States. Well-known for her appearance as Nettie Fowler in the 1956 20th Century-Fox film of CAROUSEL, she was a favorite of Richard Rodgers and appeared in eleven Rogers and Hammerstein annual concerts at Lewisohn Stadium with the New York Philharmonic. Miss Turner's versatility extended to Musical Theatre and the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan.