Geraldine Decker

Geraldine Decker(March 11, 1931,New York City— June 14, 2013,Oxnard, California) was an Americanmezzo-sopranoand voice teacher who had active singing career inoperasand concerts from 1971 through 2010.She was particularly active with theMetropolitan Operaand theSeattle Opera,and is best remembered for her annual performances in Seattle ofRichard Wagner'sRing Cyclefrom 1974 to 1987. She taught on the voice faculty ofPepperdine University.

Early life and education

Born Geraldine Helen Rice inthe Bronx,Decker moved with her family to California in her youth. She attendedCorvallis High Schoolin Studio City, California from 1945 to 1949. She soon after married her husband of 55 years, Howard Decker, with whom she had two sons, Wayne and Dirk Decker.While raising her children she pursued studies in voice with Dr.Nandor Domokosin Los Angeles. She later studied withLuisa Franceschiand her husband, baritoneEllae Verna,in New York City.

Later life and career

After her sons were grown and had moved out of the family home, Decker began pursuing a career in opera at the age of 40. She devoted the next two decades of her life to her opera career. She first drew critical notice in 1974 at theSeattle Operawhere she appeared inRichard Wagner'sRing Cycleas Erda in bothDas RheingoldandSiegfried,Schwertleite inDie Walküre,and the First NornGötterdämmerung.She portrayed those roles again in Seattle every summer through 1987.She portrayed many other roles at the Seattle Opera during her career, including Albine in Massenet'sThaïs,Azucena in Verdi'sIl trovatore,Filippyevna in Tchaikovsky'sEugene Onegin,Grandmother Burja in Janáček'sJenůfa,Herodias in Strauss'Salome,Klytämnestra in Strauss'Elektra,Mama McCourt in Moore'sThe Ballad of Baby Doe,Marthe Schwerlein in Gounod'sFaust,Mistress Quickly in Verdi'sFalstaff,Mother Jeanne in Poulenc'sDialogues of the Carmelites,and the Nurse/Innkeeper in Mussorgsky'sBoris Godunov.

Decker made her debut at theLyric Opera of Chicagoin 1978 as Mamma Lucia in Mascagni'sCavalleria rusticana.On December 17, 1980 she sang the same role for her debut at theMetropolitan OperawithGrace Bumbryas Santuzza andDavid Stivenderconducting. She was a regular presence on the Met stage for six seasons, portraying such roles as Gertrud in Humperdinck'sHansel and Gretel,Gertrude in Gounod'sRoméo et Juliette(withPlacido Domingoconducting), Grandmother Burja inJenůfa,and Schwertleite inDie Walküreamong others. In 1981 she portrayed the Large Woman in the Met premiere ofLes Mamelles de Tirésias,and was also seen that year as Annina in the premiere of theColin Grahamstaging of Verdi'sLa traviata;a production which was broadcast nationally onLive from the Met.Her last performance at the Met was as the Nurse inBoris Godunovon March 23, 1987 withPaul Plishkain the title role andJames Conlonconducting.

In 1982 Decker created the role of Nelly Dean in the world premiere ofBernard Herrmann'sWuthering Heightsat thePortland Opera.That same year she appeared in a minor singing part inFranco Zeffirelli's film version ofLa Traviata.Other companies she performed roles with during her career includedCabrillo Music Theatre,Hawaii Opera Theater,theLong Beach Opera,theLos Angeles Civic Light Opera,andOpera San José.In 1990 she portrayed Mrs. Beemer in the Disney filmPolly: Comin' Home!.She also appeared as a maid in the 1976 filmHarry and Walter Go to New York.

Decker lived inOxnard, Californiafor over 50 years. She died there in 2013 at the age 82 from complications of diabetes.

External links

• Geraldine DeckeratIMDb
• Interview with Geraldine Deckerby Bruce Duffie, October, 1979