The great lyrical singers North America
Stade or Legrand? Lanza or Wainwright? It is difficult for inquiring minds to tackle a field as large and diverse as the lyrical art, covering 10 centuries of history: there are many lyrical artists in the world. Making a selection of musicians, such as a “top 10” for example, is a difficult and subjective exercise. A musical selection is often the expression of personal preferences or artistic opinions, very interesting but also very different according to critics or musicologists, or simply influenced by the context: will an English lyrical singer not be instinctively privileged by an English critic?
For example: in France, Roberto Alagna, a French tenor, is more popular than the Russian mezzo-soprano Elena Obraztsova, who is more renowned throughout the world.
Timeline of lyrical singers in North America
Whoever wants to discover opera does not always have an experienced music lover, an expert or an educator at his or her side to support and guide him or her in this field. So : Stade (American singer and recording artist) or Legrand (French film score composer (1932–2019)) ? Vickers (Canadian singer (1926-2015)) or Domingo (Spanish tenor and conductor) ? However, the knowledge available about musicians is enormous. It was processed to select the 10, 25, 50... most popular lyrical singers around the world, for those living or having lived en North America, . And this objectively, and for the first time (soclassiq exclusivity).
Lyrical singers rendered as a timeline to bring a little perspective:
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ComposersConductorsLyrical singersPerformers 2024
This timeline is interactive to navigate through the ages or across continents (with ).
Top 10 lyrical singers in North America
Who are these greatest lyrical singers, the most famous over the 1880-2020 era in North America? The carreer of these musician has marked the history of lyric art. There are those you probably know, or at least by name and the others.
Here are these 10 lyrical singers, renowned artists from around the world:
The selections of musicians (lyrical singers) proposed by soclassiq are based exclusively on algorithms. The same applies to the composers, their works, the performers, les orchestras, the conductors and the venues : opera houses, concert halls or festivals.
What about the others? 25, 50 or more?
Summarizing to 10 musician names such a wide and diverse field may seem extreme or too simplistic for those who know lyrical art well, for those who can easily name 50 or more lyrical singers. Durbin, Sills, Elfman, Foster Jenkins, Villazón, Hampson, Fleming...
At this time, soclassiq has listed more than 14000 lyrical singers. So here is a selection of some lyrical singers for the years 1880-2020, in North America, widely recognized around the world:
Note:
- This selection may include highly reputed artists and musicians who have occasionally devoted themselves to classical music and not exclusively.
Emma Abbott The great lyrical singers
1850-1891 (Romantic)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Adele Addison The great lyrical singers
age 98 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Pierrette Alarie The great lyrical singers
1921-2011 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Licia Albanese The great lyrical singers
1909-2014 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Emma Albani The great lyrical singers
1847-1930 (Romantic)
Composer & Lyrical singer
Frances Alda The great lyrical singers
1879-1952 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Roberta Alexander The great lyrical singers
age 75 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
June Anderson The great lyrical singers
age 71 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Marian Anderson The great lyrical singers
1897-1993 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Keith Andes The great lyrical singers
1920-2005 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Francisco Araiza The great lyrical singers
age 73 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Karan Armstrong The great lyrical singers
1941-2021 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Desi Arnaz The great lyrical singers
1917-1986 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor, Performer & Lyrical singer
Arleen Auger The great lyrical singers
1939-1993 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Emilie Autumn The great lyrical singers
age 44 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Hank Ballard The great lyrical singers
1927-2003 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Kathleen Battle The great lyrical singers
age 75 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Isabel Bayrakdarian The great lyrical singers
age 50 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Cathy Berberian The great lyrical singers
1925-1983 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Alice Bigelow Tully The great lyrical singers
1902-1993 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Rockwell Blake The great lyrical singers
age 73 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Rosa Blasi The great lyrical singers
age 51 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Angel Blue The great lyrical singers
age 39 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Barbara Bonney The great lyrical singers
age 67 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Avery Brooks The great lyrical singers
age 74 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Lawrence Brownlee The great lyrical singers
age 51 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Grace Bumbry The great lyrical singers
1937-2023 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Maria Callas The great lyrical singers
1923-1977 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Gabor Carelli The great lyrical singers
1915-1999 (20th century)
Composer & Lyrical singer
Kitty Carlisle The great lyrical singers
1910-2007 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Hoagy Carmichael The great lyrical singers
1899-1981 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Shannon Chan-Kent The great lyrical singers
age 35 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Lili Chookasian The great lyrical singers
1921-2012 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Mary Costa The great lyrical singers
age 93 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Richard Crooks The great lyrical singers
1900-1972 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Irene Dalis The great lyrical singers
1925-2014 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
David Daniels The great lyrical singers
age 57 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Anita Darian The great lyrical singers
1927-2015 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Joyce DiDonato The great lyrical singers
age 55 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Mattiwilda Dobbs The great lyrical singers
1925-2015 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Plácido Domingo The great lyrical singers
age 83 (20th century)
Conductor & Lyrical singer
Pauline Donalda The great lyrical singers
1882-1970 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Helen Donath The great lyrical singers
age 83 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Margaret Dumont The great lyrical singers
1882-1965 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Deanna Durbin The great lyrical singers
1921-2013 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Nelson Eddy The great lyrical singers
1901-1967 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Marta Eggerth The great lyrical singers
1912-2013 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Danny Elfman The great lyrical singers
age 70 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Rosalind Elias The great lyrical singers
1930-2020 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Mary Ellis The great lyrical singers
1897-2003 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Simon Estes The great lyrical singers
age 86 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Jackie Evancho The great lyrical singers
age 23 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Maria Ewing The great lyrical singers
1950-2022 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Geraldine Farrar The great lyrical singers
1882-1967 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Eileen Farrell The great lyrical singers
1920-2002 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Gerald Finley The great lyrical singers
age 64 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Renée Fleming The great lyrical singers
age 65 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Mark Forest The great lyrical singers
1933-2022 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Maureen Forrester The great lyrical singers
1930-2010 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
David Foster The great lyrical singers
age 74 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Florence Foster Jenkins The great lyrical singers
1868-1944 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Sergio Franchi The great lyrical singers
1926-1990 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Bettina Freeman The great lyrical singers
1889-(?) (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Olive Fremstad The great lyrical singers
1871-1951 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Diamanda Galás The great lyrical singers
age 68 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Amelita Galli-Curci The great lyrical singers
1882-1963 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Mary Garden The great lyrical singers
1874-1967 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Éva Gauthier The great lyrical singers
1885-1958 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Vivica Genaux The great lyrical singers
age 54 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Dusolina Giannini The great lyrical singers
1902-1986 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Filippa Giordano The great lyrical singers
age 50 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Alma Gluck The great lyrical singers
1884-1938 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Susan Graham The great lyrical singers
age 63 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Kathryn Grayson The great lyrical singers
1922-2010 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Reri Grist The great lyrical singers
age 92 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Jerry Hadley The great lyrical singers
1952-2007 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Robert Hale The great lyrical singers
1933-2023 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Thomas Hampson The great lyrical singers
age 68 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Barbara Hannigan The great lyrical singers
age 52 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Lyrical singer
Megan Marie Hart The great lyrical singers
age 40 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Minnie Hauk The great lyrical singers
1851-1929 (Romantic)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Roland Hayes The great lyrical singers
1887-1977 (20th century)
Composer & Lyrical singer
Barbara Hendricks The great lyrical singers
age 75 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Jerome Hines The great lyrical singers
1921-2003 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Louise Homer The great lyrical singers
1871-1947 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Marilyn Horne The great lyrical singers
age 90 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson The great lyrical singers
1954-2006 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Ramin Karimloo The great lyrical singers
age 45 (20th century)
Composer & Lyrical singer
James King The great lyrical singers
1925-2005 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Alexander Kipnis The great lyrical singers
1891-1978 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Werner Klemperer The great lyrical singers
1920-2000 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Lyrical singer
Miliza Korjus The great lyrical singers
1909-1980 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Isa Kremer The great lyrical singers
1887-1956 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Gregory Kunde The great lyrical singers
age 70 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Mariusz Kwiecień The great lyrical singers
age 51 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Mario Lanza The great lyrical singers
1921-1959 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Agustín Lara The great lyrical singers
1897-1970 (20th century)
Composer & Lyrical singer
Jennifer Larmore The great lyrical singers
age 65 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Evelyn Lear The great lyrical singers
1926-2012 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Michel Legrand The great lyrical singers
1932-2019 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor, Performer & Lyrical singer
Lotte Lehmann The great lyrical singers
1888-1976 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Marie-Nicole Lemieux The great lyrical singers
age 48 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Liberace The great lyrical singers
1919-1987 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Emanuel List The great lyrical singers
1888-1967 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
George London The great lyrical singers
1920-1985 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Jeanette MacDonald The great lyrical singers
1903-1965 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Jean Madeira The great lyrical singers
1918-1972 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Lois Marshall The great lyrical singers
1924-1997 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Edith Mason The great lyrical singers
1892-1973 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Margaret Matzenauer The great lyrical singers
1881-1963 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
John McCormack The great lyrical singers
1884-1945 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
James McCracken The great lyrical singers
1926-1988 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Audra McDonald The great lyrical singers
age 53 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Claron McFadden The great lyrical singers
age 63 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Rod McKuen The great lyrical singers
1933-2015 (20th century)
Composer & Lyrical singer
Ellen McLain The great lyrical singers
age 71 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Sylvia McNair The great lyrical singers
age 67 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
George M. Cohan The great lyrical singers
1878-1942 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor & Lyrical singer
Bejun Mehta The great lyrical singers
age 55 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Ethel Merman The great lyrical singers
1908-1984 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Robert Merrill The great lyrical singers
1917-2004 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Chris Merritt The great lyrical singers
age 71 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Julia Migenes The great lyrical singers
age 74 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Zinka Milanov The great lyrical singers
1906-1989 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Richard Miller The great lyrical singers
1926-2009 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
David Miller The great lyrical singers
age 50 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Sherrill Milnes The great lyrical singers
age 89 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Michael Minsky The great lyrical singers
1918-1988 (20th century)
Conductor & Lyrical singer
Anna Moffo The great lyrical singers
1932-2006 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Meredith Monk The great lyrical singers
age 81 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Grace Moore The great lyrical singers
1898-1947 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
James Morris The great lyrical singers
age 77 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Randy Newman The great lyrical singers
age 80 (20th century)
Composer, Conductor, Performer & Lyrical singer
Marni Nixon The great lyrical singers
1930-2016 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Lillian Nordica The great lyrical singers
1857-1914 (Romantic)
Lyrical singer
Jessye Norman The great lyrical singers
1945-2019 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Lisette Oropesa The great lyrical singers
age 40 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
John Osborn The great lyrical singers
age 51 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Lina Pagliughi The great lyrical singers
1907-1980 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Edward Patrick Johnson The great lyrical singers
1878-1959 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Jan Peerce The great lyrical singers
1904-1984 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Mary Beth Peil The great lyrical singers
age 83 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Ángela de Peralta The great lyrical singers
1845-1883 (Romantic)
Composer & Lyrical singer
Roberta Peters The great lyrical singers
1930-2017 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Lily Pons The great lyrical singers
1898-1976 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Rosa Ponselle The great lyrical singers
1897-1981 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Harve Presnell The great lyrical singers
1933-2009 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Leontyne Price The great lyrical singers
age 97 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Carlos Puebla The great lyrical singers
1917-1989 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Sondra Radvanovsky The great lyrical singers
age 54 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Rosa Raisa The great lyrical singers
1893-1963 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Samuel Ramey The great lyrical singers
age 81 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Regina Resnik The great lyrical singers
1922-2013 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Stella Roman The great lyrical singers
1904-1992 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Lillian Russell The great lyrical singers
1860-1922 (Romantic)
Lyrical singer
Arlene Saunders The great lyrical singers
1930-2020 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Friedrich Schorr The great lyrical singers
1888-1953 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Elisabeth Schumann The great lyrical singers
1888-1952 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Ernestine Schumann-Heink The great lyrical singers
1861-1936 (Romantic)
Lyrical singer
Renata Scotto The great lyrical singers
1933-2023 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Marcella Sembrich The great lyrical singers
1858-1935 (Romantic)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Anoushka Shankar The great lyrical singers
age 42 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Caroline Shaw The great lyrical singers
age 41 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
George Shirley The great lyrical singers
age 89 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Nadine Sierra The great lyrical singers
age 35 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Beverly Sills The great lyrical singers
1929-2007 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Léopold Simoneau The great lyrical singers
1916-2006 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Frederica von Stade The great lyrical singers
age 78 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Eleanor Steber The great lyrical singers
1914-1990 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Jim Steinman The great lyrical singers
1947-2021 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Risë Stevens The great lyrical singers
1913-2013 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Teresa Stratas The great lyrical singers
age 85 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Fyodor Stravinsky The great lyrical singers
1843-1902 (Romantic)
Composer & Lyrical singer
Cheryl Studer The great lyrical singers
age 68 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Blanche Thebom The great lyrical singers
1915-2010 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Jess Thomas The great lyrical singers
1927-1993 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Lawrence Tibbett The great lyrical singers
1896-1960 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Mel Tormé The great lyrical singers
1925-1999 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Huguette Tourangeau The great lyrical singers
1938-2018 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Jennie Tourel The great lyrical singers
1900-1973 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Helen Traubel The great lyrical singers
1899-1972 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Tatiana Troyanos The great lyrical singers
1938-1993 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Richard Tucker The great lyrical singers
1913-1975 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Irena Turkevycz-Martynec The great lyrical singers
1899-1983 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Fernando del Valle The great lyrical singers
age 60 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Ramón Vargas The great lyrical singers
age 63 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Astrid Varnay The great lyrical singers
1918-2006 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Shirley Verrett The great lyrical singers
1931-2010 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Jon Vickers The great lyrical singers
1926-2015 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Rolando Villazón The great lyrical singers
age 52 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Rufus Wainwright The great lyrical singers
age 50 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Erin Wall The great lyrical singers
1975-2020 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Leonard Warren The great lyrical singers
1911-1960 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Claire Watson The great lyrical singers
1927-1986 (20th century)
Performer & Lyrical singer
Charles W. Clark The great lyrical singers
1865-1925 (Romantic)
Lyrical singer
Anne Wiggins Brown The great lyrical singers
1912-2009 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Spencer Williams The great lyrical singers
1889-1965 (20th century)
Composer, Performer & Lyrical singer
Camilla Williams The great lyrical singers
1919-2012 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
Blanche Yurka The great lyrical singers
1887-1974 (20th century)
Lyrical singer
See also...
Timelines : Lyrical singers
- The great lyrical singers
- Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- The great 20th-century lyrical singers [II.] (1950 - 2000)
- Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- The great 20th-century lyrical singers [I.] (1900 - 1950)
- Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- The great 19th-century lyrical singers (1850 - 1900)
Indexes
- All lyrical singers : by voice type * by country
- by alphabetical order : A * B * C * D * E * F * G * H * I * J * K * L * M * N * O * P * Q * R * S * T * U * V * W * X * Y * Z
- Young artists (Lyrical singers)
Other timelines
- Composers : 10 centuries of classical music
- The great classical music conductors
- The great classical music performers
Commemorations 2024, 2025, ...
Last update : 2024-03-10