Barbara Smith Conrad
Encyclopedia
Barbara Smith Conrad is an American opera
tic mezzo-soprano
of international acclaim. Born Barbara Smith, she was raised in Center Point
near Pittsburg, Texas
. In 1957, Barbara Conrad became the focus of a racial controversy revolving around her role in a student opera at The University of Texas at Austin. Pressure from the Texas Legislature forced her removal from the cast, and her story received national
media coverage (see University years.) Barbara continued her education at The University of Texas at Austin and received her Bachelor of Music degree in 1959.
Barbara Conrad went on to perform with Metropolitan Opera
, Vienna State Opera
, Teatro Nacional in Venezuela, and many others. Today Barbara continues to complement her performing activities with artist residencies and master classes, establishing herself as one of the foremost builders of voice both in the U.S. and abroad. She is the co-director and co-founder of the Wagner Theater Program, and maintains a private vocal studio in Manhattan. Barbara works closely with The Dolph Briscoe
Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin, which is the home of the university's Endowment for the Study of American Spirituals. Barbara Smith Conrad is the subject of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History's produced film When I Rise, directed by Mat Hames.
. Her role of Dido, the Queen of Carthage, placed her opposite a white student as Aeneas, her lover.
The casting of Barbara incited a campus-wide controversy that escalated to the Texas legislature. The president of the university was advised to remove her from the cast. Barbara's story was covered by national news media, prompting a carte blanche offer from Harry Belafonte
to underwrite her studies at the institution of her choice. Barbara, however, chose to remain at the University of Texas at Austin.
She was one of the early pioneers in the movement to create a more open and diverse university community, and her accomplishments and fortitude as a student represent an important chapter in the university's history. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas in 1959. After graduation, she joined Equity, the entertainment labor union. Equity already had a Barbara Smith registered. It was at this time that she began using her father's first name, Conrad.
, New York City Opera
, Pittsburgh Opera
, and many other international opera houses throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South America. She performed with the Metropolitan Opera for eight years, from 1982 to 1989, under the direction of some of the world's leading conductors, including Maazel, Bernstein, and Levine. She has performed much of the mezzo-soprano concert repertoire with the world's greatest orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic
and the London, Boston, Cleveland, and Detroit symphonies.
In addition to her operatic stage roles, Barbara played Marian Anderson
in the 1977 ABC movie Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years
, and in 1994 followed that performance with a European concert/recital tour commemorating the renowned contralto. In 1987, she was invited by President Reagan to sing at the White House in honor of Lady Bird Johnson's seventy-fifth birthday. A personal highlight for her was an invitation to perform for Pope John Paul II during his 1995 visit to New York City. Among her many other accomplishments is her recording of a collection of Negro spirituals
with the choir of the Convent Avenue Baptist Church, released on the Naxos label to critical acclaim.
Today Barbara continues to complement her performing activities with artist residencies and master classes, establishing herself as one of the foremost builders of voice both in the U.S. and abroad. She is the co-director and co-founder of the Wagner Theater Program at the Manhattan School of Music
, and maintains a private vocal studio in Manhattan.
2009 Texas House of Representatives passes a Resolution to Honor Barbara Smith Conrad
1986 Barbara Smith Conrad Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Fine Arts, at The University of Texas at Austin
1985 Distinguished Alumnus Award - The Ex-Students' Association of The University of Texas
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic mezzo-soprano
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...
of international acclaim. Born Barbara Smith, she was raised in Center Point
Center Point, Camp County, Texas
Center Point is a ghost town settled in 1865 by freed slaves. It is located in Camp County in the U.S. state of Texas, southeast of Pittsburg at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 2057 and County Road 4247. Center Point is the birthplace of mezzo-soprano Barbara Smith Conrad...
near Pittsburg, Texas
Pittsburg, Texas
Pittsburg is a city located in Camp County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 4,347. It is the county seat of Camp County. It is best known as the home of the giant poultry producer Pilgrim's Pride and the home of racing legend Carroll Shelby...
. In 1957, Barbara Conrad became the focus of a racial controversy revolving around her role in a student opera at The University of Texas at Austin. Pressure from the Texas Legislature forced her removal from the cast, and her story received national
media coverage (see University years.) Barbara continued her education at The University of Texas at Austin and received her Bachelor of Music degree in 1959.
Barbara Conrad went on to perform with 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...
, Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
, Teatro Nacional in Venezuela, and many others. Today Barbara continues to complement her performing activities with artist residencies and master classes, establishing herself as one of the foremost builders of voice both in the U.S. and abroad. She is the co-director and co-founder of the Wagner Theater Program, and maintains a private vocal studio in Manhattan. Barbara works closely with The Dolph Briscoe
Dolph Briscoe
Dolph Briscoe, Jr. was a Uvalde, Texas rancher and businessman who was the 41st Governor of Texas between 1973 and 1979....
Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin, which is the home of the university's Endowment for the Study of American Spirituals. Barbara Smith Conrad is the subject of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History's produced film When I Rise, directed by Mat Hames.
Early years
The youngest of five children, Barbara Smith displayed a love and aptitude for music. As early as age six, Barbara performed with her brother the complicated music of Mozart and traces her musical roots to her family's home in the east Texas community of Center Point. It was here that she and her siblings explored a variety of musical genres on the family piano and in their local Baptist church.University years
Barbara was admitted into the University of Texas at Austin in 1956. She was part of the first class of African American undergraduate students to attend the university. In 1957 Barbara auditioned for, and was awarded, the leading role in the university's production of the opera, Dido and AeneasDido and Aeneas
Dido and Aeneas is an opera in a prologue and three acts by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell to a libretto by Nahum Tate. The first known performance was at Josias Priest's girls' school in London no later than the summer of 1688. The story is based on Book IV of Virgil's Aeneid...
. Her role of Dido, the Queen of Carthage, placed her opposite a white student as Aeneas, her lover.
The casting of Barbara incited a campus-wide controversy that escalated to the Texas legislature. The president of the university was advised to remove her from the cast. Barbara's story was covered by national news media, prompting a carte blanche offer from Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
to underwrite her studies at the institution of her choice. Barbara, however, chose to remain at the University of Texas at Austin.
She was one of the early pioneers in the movement to create a more open and diverse university community, and her accomplishments and fortitude as a student represent an important chapter in the university's history. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas in 1959. After graduation, she joined Equity, the entertainment labor union. Equity already had a Barbara Smith registered. It was at this time that she began using her father's first name, Conrad.
Career
Barbara Smith Conrad has performed leading operatic roles with the Vienna State Opera, Teatro Nacional in Venezuela, the Houston Grand OperaHouston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera Houston Grand Opera was founded in 1955 through the joint efforts of Maestro Walter Herbert and cultural leaders Mrs. Louis G. Lobit, Edward Bing and Charles Cockrell...
, New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
, Pittsburgh Opera
Pittsburgh Opera
Pittsburgh Opera is an American opera company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is one of two opera companies in the city, the other being Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Opera gives performances in several venues, primarily at the Benedum Center, with other performances at the...
, and many other international opera houses throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South America. She performed with the Metropolitan Opera for eight years, from 1982 to 1989, under the direction of some of the world's leading conductors, including Maazel, Bernstein, and Levine. She has performed much of the mezzo-soprano concert repertoire with the world's greatest orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
and the London, Boston, Cleveland, and Detroit symphonies.
In addition to her operatic stage roles, Barbara played Marian Anderson
Marian Anderson
Marian Anderson was an African-American contralto and one of the most celebrated singers of the twentieth century...
in the 1977 ABC movie Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years
Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years
Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years is a made-for-television movie that was a sequel to the previous year's Eleanor and Franklin. Originally airing on March 13, 1977, it was part of a two-part biopic directed by Daniel Petrie based on Joseph P. Lash's Pulitzer prize-winning biography...
, and in 1994 followed that performance with a European concert/recital tour commemorating the renowned contralto. In 1987, she was invited by President Reagan to sing at the White House in honor of Lady Bird Johnson's seventy-fifth birthday. A personal highlight for her was an invitation to perform for Pope John Paul II during his 1995 visit to New York City. Among her many other accomplishments is her recording of a collection of Negro spirituals
Spiritual (music)
Spirituals are religious songs which were created by enslaved African people in America.-Terminology and origin:...
with the choir of the Convent Avenue Baptist Church, released on the Naxos label to critical acclaim.
Today Barbara continues to complement her performing activities with artist residencies and master classes, establishing herself as one of the foremost builders of voice both in the U.S. and abroad. She is the co-director and co-founder of the Wagner Theater Program at the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
, and maintains a private vocal studio in Manhattan.
When I Rise
When I Rise is a feature-length documentary directed by Mat Hames about Barbara Smith Conrad, a gifted University of Texas music student who finds herself at the epicenter of racial controversy, struggling against the odds and ultimately ascending to the heights of international opera.- Festivals:
- WORLD PREMIERE: South by Southwest Film Festival, Austin, Texas (March 2010)
- Dallas International Film Festival, Dallas, Texas (April 2010)
- Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Toronto, Canada (May 2010)
- Indianapolis International Film Festival (July 2010)
- New York City International Film Festival (August 2010)
- New Orleans Film Festival (October 2010)
- Starz Denver Film Festival (November 2010)
- Santa Barbara International Film Festival (January 2011)
- San Diego Black Film Festival (January 2011)
- Awards and Nominations:
- Winner: Audience Award Feature - Indianapolis International Film Festival
- Winner: Black Expressions Award - Indianapolis International Film Festival
- Nominee: Music Documentary Award – International Documentary Awards (IDA)
- Winner: Social Justice Award for Documentary Film - The Fund for Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara International Film Festival)
University of Texas
In the fall of 2010, the University of Texas introduced five new broadcast advertising spots featuring the voice of Barbara Smith Conrad.Awards and Honors
2011 Texas Medal of Arts Awards - Lifetime Achievement2009 Texas House of Representatives passes a Resolution to Honor Barbara Smith Conrad
1986 Barbara Smith Conrad Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Fine Arts, at The University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
1985 Distinguished Alumnus Award - The Ex-Students' Association of The University of Texas
External links
- Barbara Smith Conrad Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Fine Arts
- UT Austin, Alumna Heal Racial Wounds
- Mezzo-soprano Barbara Smith Conrad wows Texas House with gospel tune
- Lawmakers will honor mezzo-soprano who lost a leading role because of prejudice half a century ago, when she was among the first African American students on UT campus.
- Barbara Smith Conrad: A diva's return, triumphant
- Barbara Smith Conrad; Opera Singer
- Texas Medal of Arts