Stich-Randall, Teresa (1927–)

views updated

Stich-Randall, Teresa (1927–)

American soprano. Born Teresa Stich, Dec 24, 1927, in West Hartford, CT; studied at the Hartford School of Music, Columbia University, and University of Perugia (Italy).

While a student at Columbia, created the role of Gertrude Stein in Virgil Thomson's opera The Mother of Us All, a performance that attracted considerable attention (1944); sang in Aïda and Falstaff with NBC Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini; debuted with Vienna State Opera (1952), then Metropolitan Opera (1961); one of the great Mozart singers of the mid-20th century, had a range as a lyric soprano that was also suited to Strauss; recording of Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier for EMI, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, remains a classic. Was the 1st American singer to be named an Austrian Kammersängerin (1962).

See also Women in World History.

More From encyclopedia.com