Part III: Rare and unknown voices – MATTIWILDA DOBBS

Please open the bar to read more about this artist! Mattiwilda Dobbs, Soprano (born 1925) Jacques Offenbach LES CONTES D´HOFFMANN Les oiseaux dans la charmille Conducted by Jean Morel (Live recording 1959) My personal opinion: In December 1958, the African-American coloratura soprano Mattiwilda Dobbs sang the first of three performances as Olympia in LES CONTES D´HOFFMANN at the Met. Her partner was swedish tenor Nicolai Gedda. By a funny coincidence, both singers were born on July 11 in 1925. Dobbs came to the Met one year after Marian Anderson, the first black soloist. Dobbs´ first role was Gilda in RIGOLETTO (with Leonard Warren and Jan Peerce), the beginning of a long-term contract offered by Sir Rudolf Bing. After the performance, US-writer and photographer Carl van Vechten wrote, that she was “glorious: A warm and brilliant coloratura and the best Gilda in my experience, and I have heard Melba, Eames and Bessie Abott. And Hilde Gueden who always leaves me cold as a sardine in the icebox!” Dobbs sang Gilda twelve times at the Met. Dobbs´ soprano was small, but her vocal technique was refined and her interpretations very lively. She was predestinated to sing all this young lyrical opera girls. On records you can find her as Leila in Bizet´s PEARL FISHERS (enervating because of René Leibowitz´ unconventional conducting. He also was the conductor who gave us the most awful BALLO-recording ever. You must hear it to believe it!) and Cathérine in the rare opera LA JOLIE …