Elinor Ross

For other people with similar names, seeEleanor Ross (disambiguation).

Elinor Ross
Elinor Ross, publicity photo, 1960s
Born	Elinor Marilyn Rosenthal (1926-08-01)August 1, 1926 Tampa, Florida,U.S.
Died	March 6, 2020(2020-03-06)(aged 93) Manhattan,New York City
Occupation	Operaticsoprano
Years active	1958–1979

Elinor Ross(August 1, 1926– March 6, 2020) was an Americanoperasinger, a dramaticsopranoparticularly associated with the Italian repertory. She made an international career, appearing regularly at theMetropolitan Operain New York City and at major opera houses in Europe and the Americas, in roles such as Puccini'sToscaandTurandot.

“Miss Ross has the dramatic metal of aRaisa,Ponselle,Traubel,Flagstad,orNilsson!”– John Rosenfield,The Dallas Morning News

Career

Born Elinor Marilyn Rosenthal inTampa, Florida,Ross studied atSyracuse University,and later came to New York to study with William Herman, Stanley Sontag and Leo Resnick. She made her debut with theLyric Opera of Chicagoin 1958, as Leonora inIl trovatore,alongsideJussi Björling,Giulietta SimionatoandEttore Bastianini.

Elinor Ross in the title role ofTurandot,Metropolitan Opera,1970s

Ross with tenorJussi Björlingprior to herLyric Opera of Chicagodebut as Leonora inIl trovatore,1958

In the summer of 1959, Ross sang the American premiere ofHeitor Villa-Lobos’ “Songs of the Tropical Forest” under the composer’s baton. She went on to sing at the opera houses of Boston, Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia, San Francisco, New Orleans, Houston, and Hartford, among others. In 1968, she appeared atCarnegie Hallin New York, in the American premiere of Verdi'sAlzira.She sang regularly at theMetropolitan Opera,first in 1970 in the title role of Puccini'sTurandot,stepping in on short notice forBirgit Nilsson,alongsideFranco Corellias Calaf andPilar Lorengaras Liu.A reviewer forThe New York Timeswrote:

Her voice is big and assertive in the upper range and it can be quite effective when put to powerhouse use. In this performance, however, it was not smoothly produced at all times nor equally attractive in all registers. Nevertheless, Miss Ross achieved a vocal and dramatic interpretation of the role of the haughtly princess that was substantial and admirable.

She also appeared at the Met as Donna Anna in Mozart'sDon Giovanni,in the title role of Verdi'sAida,as Amelia inUn ballo in maschera,Elisabetta inDon Carlo,Lady Macbeth inMacbeth,Leonora inIl trovatore,Puccini'sToscaandTurandot,Ponchielli'sGioconda,and Santuzza in Mascagni'sCavalleria rusticana.

Ross also enjoyed a successful international career. In 1963, she made her European debut in London, singing under Carlo Maria Giulini in the Verdi Requiem, with Rita Gorr, Nicolai Gedda, and Nicolai Ghiaurov. Ross appeared atLa Fenicein Venice as Bellini'sNormain 1965 and as Leonora inLa forza del destinoin 1967, and as Sinaïde in Rossini'sMosè in Egittoin 1968. She performed at theVienna State Operaas Amelia and Santuzza in 1967, and atLa Scalain Milan as Santuzza in 1970.She performed at the opera houses ofBologna,Palermo,Florence,Verona,theBerlin State Opera,and theTeatro Colónin Buenos Aires, among others. Her repertoire included additional roles such as Abigaille in Verdi'sNabucco,Maddalena in Giordano'sAndrea Chénierand Cherubini'sMédée.

"Tom Schippers took me to Scala to understudy Callas in Medea. I figured it was good experience, and I needed the money, so I did all the rehearsals, and she came back and canceled my performance. She paid off the whole orchestra, the chorus, even me! The whole house was dark, because she didn't want me to sing in her stead. We actually became friends, because I was this little nothing, and we spoke all the time. As a young singer, there was nothing to be done. I wanted to sing leading roles in leading houses, and I did."

In November 1979, Ross was forced to stop stage performances, following a diagnosis ofBell's palsy.She sang in concert performances during the 1980s. She underwent surgery with muscle and nerve transfer to stabilise her face, which eventually allowed for a return to live performance in 1996.

Ross died on March 6, 2020, ofkidney failure.

External links

• Elinor Rossdiscography atDiscogs
• Official website
• Elinor Ross Biographybelcantosociety.org
• Ken Benson:The Graceful Elinor Rosscsmusic.net February 1, 2012
• Vincenzo Bellini,Norma(Berlin, 1967)onYouTube
• Elinor Ross –La forza del destino– "Pace, pace, mio Dio", Teatro La Fenice, 1966on YouTube