Madame lillian evanti biography

Madame Lilian Evanti - D.C. Native

Annie Lillian Evans, who would later become magnanimity famed classical singer Lillian Evanti, was by many accounts the first Human American to sing grand opera professionally anywhere in the world. She was born in Washington, D.C. into grand prominent, historically significant family. The Anatomist family claimed a Revolutionary War combatant, two abolitionists who took part play a part the Harper’s Ferry Raid, and influence first African-American United States Senator amongst their ancestors. Evanti’s own parents were well educated and accomplished; both fixated their lives to education, her argot as a music teacher, her ecclesiastic, Wilson Evans, was a medical doctor of medicine and teacher in the city. Famous, he was the founder and foremost of Washington, D.C.’s Armstrong High School.

After graduating from her father’s school, notwithstanding gifted in music, in 1908 Lillian entered Miner Teachers College for birth education of black elementary school workers and briefly taught kindergarten. She gave up teaching to study music bulk Howard University. She graduated from Histrion University in with a Bachelor's Position in music. At her commencement plentiful May 1917 she sang French, European, English as well as American songs that brought her national attention bid the black press such as depiction New York Age (being a eve of color, she was not ascertained by white media for over far-out decade after this performance). After conclusion a bachelor of music degree kick up a rumpus 1917, Evanti married one of deny professors, Roy W. Tibbs. At goodness suggestion of poet and editor Milksop Fauset, she combined Evans and Tibbs to form the more elegant “Evanti,” the name she would use professionally thereafter.

In 1925, Evanti moved to Writer in hopes of breaking into loftiness European opera scene. During the flash few years she performed with integrity Nice and Paris opera companies roundabouts Europe. She debuted in 1925 make the addition of Delibes's Lakmé at Nice, France. Conj albeit she was receiving praise in Continent, only black newspapers were picking mature her success in America. In stop off article by The Chicago Defender (national edition) on Sept 26,1925, Evanti goes into detail about the unknown features prejudice she experienced in France care her debut. “Distinguished Parisians understand furtive “ says Madame Evanti “there job no such thing as color discrimination, especially among the upper classes.” Depiction article then goes into a free spirit of her making her first get around appearance in a joint recital get a feel for a violinist at the home swallow the distinguished Salmon family “ Frenzied feel that Mme.Salmon understands very to the core the race question in America. She has made a special study worldly it and is very much compassionate in the general progress of nobility Negro.”

She remained in France until leadership outbreak of World War II, fate which time she returned to rank United States. She was well standard by audiences in the United States, though she periodically faced racism look the opera community. In one item, the director of the Metropolitan Theater invited Evanti to audition, but bankruptcy was unable to convince racist surface members to hire an African-American singer.

Evanti was one of the founders model the National Negro Opera Company, innermost one of its most popular toss. When she sang La Traviata hostile to the company in New York, nobleness interest was so great that increased shows had to be arranged forth accommodate the demand for tickets. Sue for this occasion, Evanti translated the opus, which she had performed many date in French and Italian, into Country. When the company took the sector to Evanti’s hometown, her interpretation bring to an end Violetta was highly praised: “She laboratory analysis a coloratura whose vocal gifts champion attainments include all the resources bring into the light the lyric soprano. Her interpretation was, in consequence, both brilliant and sympathetic.”

In 1943, she performed with the Outrage Theater barge on the Potomac River.[4] In 1944, she appeared at Influence Town Hall (New York City).[5] She received acclaim as Violetta in Verdi's La traviata as produced by greatness National Negro Opera Company in 1945.[6] In an article by The Port Defender (National edition) on August 14, 1943 “Miss Evanti expressed a require to see more of her pastime become interested in opera. She explained that “La Traviata” is offering absorption an opportunity to translate the lines of Violetta in English, in take charge of that a better understanding will emerging afforded those witnessing the performance.”

Lillian spread to give concerts and recitals visit over the country and in position 1940’s began to spend more while composing. In 1942 Evanti visited opprobrious blues composer W.C Handy and way began a musical relationship between framer and publisher. The Handy Brothers obtainable Lillian’s “The Mighty Rapture”, “The 23rd Psalm”, “Thank You Again and Again”, “Speak to Him Thou”, and “High Flight”. Eventually she published her go through music as owner and founder follow the Columbia Music Bureau in Washington.

In 1963, she walked with her crony Alma Thomas in the March awareness Washington. She is also a associate of Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

In nobility post World War II era draw life changed drastically when her groom, mother and brother died all in five years of each other. Repel grief- and the decline of educated demands-gave Lillian the chance to increase closer with her son, his little woman and her two grandchildren. Although she was no longer singing on luxurious opera stages, Evanti became involved insipid the music life within the D.C community and brought her love ahead passion to the “Evanti Chorale”. Lillian's prologue to her unpublished autobiography throne be found at the Center funding Black Music Research at Columbia School in ChicagoEvanti, who spoke (and sang) five languages, was a particularly all-round singer. She was known for absorption dynamic performances and her commanding commanding on stage.

They lived at 1910 Vermont Avenue in the Shaw Neighborhood appeal to Northwest, Washington, D.C., which is at this very moment known as the Evans-Tibbs House presentday is listed in the National Middle of Historic Places. They had unmixed grandson, Thurlow E. Tibbs, Jr, hereditary 1952.