- Caterina Jarboro
—Caterina Jarboro (1903–1986) was a pioneering
African American opera singer. In 1933 — twenty-two full years beforeMarian Anderson 's début at theMetropolitan Opera — impresarioAlfredo Salmaggi hired Jarboro to sing with his opera company at theHippodrome . She was thus the first black opera singer ever to sing on an opera stage in America. (This milestone earned Salmaggi special recognition from First LadyEleanor Roosevelt .Jarboro studied in North Carolina and then in New York. She sang in the theater musical "
Shuffle Along " and inJames P. Johnson 's "Running Wild" as well as several others. She debuted in opera with Verdi's "Aida " at theMilan Puccini Theater . Many other Opera appearances throughout Europe and the United States followed.References
"The Music of Black Americans: A History".
Eileen Southern . W. W. Norton & Company; 3rd edition. ISBN 0-393-97141-4
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