Felicia Weathers (born 13 August 1937) is an American soprano in

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

and concert. Weathers was born in

St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

, Missouri. She entered

Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is a private research university with its main campus in St. Louis County, and Clayton, Missouri. Founded in 1853, the university is named after George Washington. Washington University is r ...

with a medical career in mind, but after one year she transferred to

Lincoln University (Missouri) Lincoln University (Lincoln U) is a public, historically black, land-grant university in Jefferson City, Missouri. Founded in 1866 by African-American veterans of the American Civil War, it is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fun ...

to study music. In 1957, she placed second in the

Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions The Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition (formerly the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions) is an annual singing competition sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera. Established in 1954, its purpose is to discover, assist ...

. Weathers attended Indiana University School of Music, where she studied voice with Dorothee Manski,

Charles Kullman Charles Kullman (January 13, 1903February 8, 1983), originally Charles Kullmann, was an American tenor who enjoyed a wide-ranging career, both in Europe and America. Life and career Charles Kullman was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and be ...

, and Frank St. Leger. She sang in Zurich, Vienna, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Paris, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm,

The Royal Opera The Royal Opera is a British opera company based in central London, resident at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Along with the English National Opera, it is one of the two principal opera companies in London. Founded in 1946 as the Cove ...

in London, La Scala in Milan and

Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is oper ...

, New York. One of her supporters was the conductor

Herbert von Karajan Herbert von Karajan (; born Heribert Ritter von Karajan; 5 April 1908 – 16 July 1989) was an Austrian conductor. He was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for 34 years. During the Nazi era, he debuted at the Salzburg Festival, wit ...

. Among Weathers' notable opera performances were the leading roles in '' Salome'' (R. Strauss), ''

Aida ''Aida'' (or ''Aïda'', ) is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, it was commissioned by Cairo's Khedivial Opera House and had its première there on 24 Decemb ...

'' (Verdi), '' Madama Butterfly'' (Puccini), and as Dona Anna in '' Don Giovanni'' (Mozart), Elisabeth in ''

Don Carlos ''Don Carlos'' is a five-act grand opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi to a French-language libretto by Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle, based on the dramatic play '' Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien'' (''Don Carlos, Infante of Spain'') by Fried ...

'' (Verdi), and many others. She is also a

recital A concert is a live music performance in front of an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, choir, or band. Concerts are held in a wide variety ...

ist and concert singer. Weathers is recipient of many international awards. For instance for her outstanding achievements in Italy, she was awarded with the Il Sagittario d'oro. From the hands of the Norwegian King Harald she received a national award for her dedicated work for Norway. She received an honorary doctorate in music from

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universi ...

in 1972. February 13 of every year has been made Felicia Weathers Day by the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. In Germany, she received the

Deutscher Schallplattenpreis The Deutscher Schallplattenpreis was a prize that the awarded from 1963 through 1992. Its successor is the Echo Music Prize. References German music awards Awards established in 1963 Awards disestablished in 1992 {{award-stub ...

. In 2011, she was recipient of the National Opera Association's "Lift Every Voice" award."Lift Every Voice" Legacy Award Recipients
National Opera Association Her last performance in opera was in 1999 in Germany. Here she sang the role of Chrysothemis in '' Elektra'' (R. Strauss). Since then she sings in concerts and dedicates her professional experience in being a voice and vocal technique teacher. Weathers directed ''Madama Butterfly'' for the Ebony National Opera in New York City and for the Heidelberg Oper in Germany. She directed ''

Il trovatore ''Il trovatore'' ('The Troubadour') is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto largely written by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play ''El trovador'' (1836) by Antonio García Gutiérrez. It was García Gutiérrez's mos ...

'' in Philadelphia and ''

Porgy and Bess ''Porgy and Bess'' () is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play '' Porgy'', it ...

'' in Rio de Janeiro.

References

External links

"Felicia Weathers (Soprano)"
profile and pictures at bach-cantatas.com *
Profile
Opera Arts {{DEFAULTSORT:Weathers, Felicia 1937 births Living people Musicians from St. Louis 20th-century African-American women singers 20th-century American women opera singers African-American women opera singers American operatic sopranos Winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Voice teachers American opera directors Female opera directors Singers from Missouri Classical musicians from Missouri Women music educators 21st-century American women Washington University in St. Louis alumni Lincoln University (Missouri) alumni Jacobs School of Music alumni