Irene Dalis
Encyclopedia
Irene Dalis is an American mezzo-soprano
born in San José, California
. She made her debut in 1953 as Eboli in Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi
in Germany. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera
, New York, also as Eboli in Don Carlo, on March 16, 1957, earning fine reviews. That was the first of 274 performances in the great New York theatre, through 19 seasons. She was particularly noted as Amneris in Verdi's Aïda
, a part she sang 69 times at the Metropolitan, and as The Nurse in Die Frau ohne Schatten
with San Francisco Opera
. She was Brangäne when Birgit Nilsson
sang her Tristan und Isolde
at the Metropolitan 1959, and Amneris when Leontyne Price
sang her first Aïda at the Metropolitan, on February 20, 1961. She also performed with soprano Leonie Rysanek frequently, most notably in Salome
, where Dalis sang the role of Herodias, and in Aida.
She appeared at the Bayreuth Festival
singing Kundry in Parsifal
by Richard Wagner
. Her portrayal of this role was recorded in 1962 with Jess Thomas
as Parsifal, Hans Hotter
as Gurnemanz and Hans Knappertsbusch
conducting.
She retired from the operatic stage in 1977, to her hometown of San Jose, where she created the Opera Workshop program at San Jose State University. The program began turning out so many career-level graduate singers, that she was able to form the Opera San Jose
in 1984, a professional company that hires young singers as Principal Resident Artists; these singers perform all principal roles in the company's four (4) annual productions. She based the program on her experiences as a young singer in Germany performing on Fest contracts. She heads the company as General Director.
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
born in San José, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. She made her debut in 1953 as Eboli in Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
in Germany. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, New York, also as Eboli in Don Carlo, on March 16, 1957, earning fine reviews. That was the first of 274 performances in the great New York theatre, through 19 seasons. She was particularly noted as Amneris in Verdi's Aïda
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
, a part she sang 69 times at the Metropolitan, and as The Nurse in Die Frau ohne Schatten
Die Frau ohne Schatten
Die Frau ohne Schatten is an opera in three acts by Richard Strauss with a libretto by his long-time collaborator, the poet Hugo von Hofmannsthal. It was written between 1911 and either 1915 or 1917...
with San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
. She was Brangäne when Birgit Nilsson
Birgit Nilsson
right|thumb|Nilsson in 1948.Birgit Nilsson was a celebrated Swedish dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works...
sang her Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde is an opera, or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Straßburg. It was composed between 1857 and 1859 and premiered in Munich on 10 June 1865 with Hans von Bülow conducting...
at the Metropolitan 1959, and Amneris when Leontyne Price
Leontyne Price
Mary Violet Leontyne Price is an American soprano. Born and raised in the Deep South, she rose to international acclaim in the 1950s and 1960s, and was one of the first African Americans to become a leading artist at the Metropolitan Opera.One critic characterized Price's voice as "vibrant",...
sang her first Aïda at the Metropolitan, on February 20, 1961. She also performed with soprano Leonie Rysanek frequently, most notably in Salome
Salome
Salome , the Daughter of Herodias , is known from the New Testament...
, where Dalis sang the role of Herodias, and in Aida.
She appeared at the Bayreuth Festival
Bayreuth Festival
The Bayreuth Festival is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner are presented...
singing Kundry in Parsifal
Parsifal
Parsifal is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. It is loosely based on Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival, the 13th century epic poem of the Arthurian knight Parzival and his quest for the Holy Grail, and on Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail.Wagner first conceived the work...
by Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
. Her portrayal of this role was recorded in 1962 with Jess Thomas
Jess Thomas
Jess Thomas was an American operatic tenor, best known for his Wagner singing.-Biography:Jess Floyd Thomas was born in Hot Springs, South Dakota. As a child he took part in various musical activities and later studied psychology at the University of Nebraska and Stanford University. He was...
as Parsifal, Hans Hotter
Hans Hotter
Hans Hotter was a German operatic bass-baritone, admired internationally after World War II for the power, beauty, and intelligence of his singing, especially in Wagner operas. He was extremely tall and his appearance was striking because of his high, narrow face, wide mouth, and big, aquiline nose...
as Gurnemanz and Hans Knappertsbusch
Hans Knappertsbusch
Hans Knappertsbusch was a German conductor, best known for his performances of the music of Richard Wagner, Anton Bruckner and Richard Strauss....
conducting.
She retired from the operatic stage in 1977, to her hometown of San Jose, where she created the Opera Workshop program at San Jose State University. The program began turning out so many career-level graduate singers, that she was able to form the Opera San Jose
Opera San Jose
Opera San José is the professional opera company in San Jose, California, United States, founded in 1984 by Irene Dalis. In 1988, it formed a resident company of principal artists, for which it has purchased fourteen apartment units to provide rent-free accommodation...
in 1984, a professional company that hires young singers as Principal Resident Artists; these singers perform all principal roles in the company's four (4) annual productions. She based the program on her experiences as a young singer in Germany performing on Fest contracts. She heads the company as General Director.