Rosa Ponselle (1897-1981) was an American operatic soprano who is widely regarded as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century. Born in Meriden, Connecticut, Ponselle grew up in a musical family and began singing at a young age. Her older sister, Carmela Ponselle, was an established Vaudeville singer and brought a young Rosa… Read More
soprano
Coloratura Soprano and Advocate, Reri Grist
Reri Grist is a retired American soprano who was born on February 23, 1932, in New York City. She is known for her performances in opera, operetta, and musical theater, and she was particularly celebrated for her coloratura soprano voice, which is a type of voice that is characterized by its agility, flexibility, and ability… Read More
A Voice for Change: Remembering Nadine Roberts Waters, Operatic Soprano
Nadine Roberts Waters was a notable African American operatic soprano from Wyoming, Ohio, who rose to fame during the early 20th century. She was born on September 10, 1903, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in the town of Wyoming, a suburb of Cincinnati. Waters started her music training at the age of 12, studying… Read More
Four art songs, set by Claude Debussy, perfect for soprano recital
Are you preparing for a Junior Recital, Senior Recital, or Graduate Recital? These four art songs, as set by Claude Debussy, are perfect for adding to a Soprano vocal recital program. French composer Achille-Claude Debussy, also known as Claude-Achille Debussy or Claude Debussy was born August 22, 1862, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Seine-et-Oise. Debussy was one of… Read More
Perfect Soprano Recital Selections
Are you preparing for a Junior Recital, Senior Recital, or Graduate Recital? Deciding upon the perfect program of music for your performance is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. A vocalist must carefully select the right balance of music to appropriately highlight vocal skills. Curated from our database, here are 24 selections perfect… Read More
Seven arias from Giuseppe Verdi’s La battaglia di Legnano
Seven texts from La battaglia di Legnano, as set by Giuseppe Verdi, have recently been added to the IPA Source database. La battaglia di Legnano is a four-act opera, with a libretto set by Salvadore Cammarano. It was first performed in January of 1849, and was commissioned by the Teatro Argentina theatre. In the 1850’s, Verdi… Read More
Perfect for Voice – 17 Texts from Georg Friedrich Händel’s Messiah
Georg Friedrich Händel’s Messiah (HWV 56) is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible, and from the version of the Psalms included with the Book of Common Prayer. Originally intended as thought-provoking inspiration for Lent and Easter, this 259-page score was composed in a mere 3-4 weeks. During the 1700’s, opera… Read More
Ask IPA Source: Question regarding A Spirit Flower by Louis Campbell-Tipton
An IPA Source customer asks: A Spirit Flower by Louis Campbell-Tipton (First Book of Soprano Solos Pt. 2, Page 128) has German lyrics under the English. Would like to see an IPA version of the German, but curious about why there is a German alternate text. B. Martin Stanton was presumably an Anglophone. Jussi Björling recorded it… Read More