June 11, 2026
Athens, GR 14 C
Expand search form
Blog

Chicago’s premiere singer dies, 91

Chicago’s premiere singer dies, 91

The soprano Elsa Charleston, renowned for her commitment to new works, has died in her hometown. After a career in chamber music as a mezzo, Elsa hit the high register as she hit 40, touring Europe with Lukas Foss’s ‘Time Cycle,’ Oliver Knussen’s ‘Rosenkranz Lieder’ and Luciano Berio’s ‘O Re’.

She premiered David del Tredici’s ‘Adventures Underground’ with the BBC Symphony, sang Lulu at Santa Fe and performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Solti and Giulini.Her second husband was the composer Ralph Shapey.

Bruce Duffie interview here.

The post Chicago’s premiere singer dies, 91 appeared first on Slippedisc.

Previous Article

East Berlin’s Italian diva has died, at 85

Next Article

LA school gets $16.6m donation for Salonen program

You might be interested in …

Peter Gelb: Trump is shrinking our business

Peter Gelb: Trump is shrinking our business

In an interview for the classical music platform BackstageClassical (also available as a podcast), Peter Gelb, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, warns of the far-reaching consequences of Donald Trump’s presidency for […]

Barenboim’s back in the podium

Barenboim’s back in the podium

He conducted the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra last night at Musikfest Bremen with works by Brahms and Schubert. Next stop: Berlin’s Waldbühne. Photos: Manuel Vaca & Patric Leo The post Barenboim’s back in the podium appeared […]