Lillian Evanti
| Lillian Evanti | |
|---|---|
 Lillian Evanti in France in 1926 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Annie Wilson Lillian Evans |
| Born |
August 12, 1890 Washington, D.C. |
| Died | December 6, 1967 (aged 77) |
| Occupation(s) | Opera Singer |
| Instruments | Soprano |
| Years active | 1925–1945 |
Lillian Evanti (August 12, 1890 – December 6, 1967), was an African-American opera singer.
Life
She was born in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Armstrong Manual Training School.[1]
She graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor's Degree in music and studied in France and Italy. Evanti, a soprano, sang at the Belasco Theater in 1926 with Marian Anderson.[2] She debuted in 1927 in Delibes's Lakmé at Nice, France. As an opera singer and concert artist, she toured throughout Europe and South America.
In 1943, she performed with the Watergate Theater barge on the Potomac River.[3] In 1944, she appeared at The Town Hall (New York City).[4] She received acclaim as Violetta in Verdi's La traviata as produced by the National Negro Opera Company in 1945.[5]
In 1963, she walked with her friend Alma Thomas in the March on Washington.[6]
Family
She married Roy Tibbs, and lived at 1910 Vermont Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C.; they had a son, Thurlow E. Tibbs, Jr.
References
- ↑ Peterson, Heather. "Evans, Annie/Evanti, Lillian (1891-1967)". The Black Past. Retrieved 2013-11-24.
- ↑ Baker, Jueseppi (February 12, 2013). "Black History Moment: Lillian Evanti; 1st African American To Perform In Major European Opera Company". The ObamaCrat. Retrieved 2013-11-24.
- ↑ "Madame Lillian Evanti (Lillian Evans Tibbs) Residence, African American Heritage Trail". Cultural Tourism DC. Retrieved 2013-11-24.
- ↑ "LILLIAN EVANTI HEARD; Lyric Soprano Returns to Local Concert Stage After 12 Years". The New York Times. October 13, 1944.
- ↑ "Lillian Evanti, soprano". Extravagant Crowd: Carl Van Vechten's Portraits of Women. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Retrieved 2013-11-24.
- ↑ "Alma Thomas’s March on Washington …with 250,000 Others". Archives of American Art. August 9, 2013.
Sources
- Eileen Southern, The Music of Black Americans: A History. W. W. Norton & Company; 3rd edition. ISBN 0-393-97141-4
- Lillian Evanti photographs and other material
- Madame Lillian Evanti seated on train in Europe.