Aïda

Leontyne Price was the first African American to have a successful career as a diva in the European operatic tradition. Her performance as Tosca in 1955 created a sensation, partly for this reason, but more for her marvelous voice and ability. She had already been singled out by Virgil Thomson and performed in the premiere of Samuel Barber's Prayers of Kierkegaard. She has given wonderful performances as A?da, Madame Butterfly, Donna Anna, Pamina, and Cleopatra in Barber's Anthony and Cleopatra, and also as a concert artist. Price's honors include 19 Grammy awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, numerous honorary doctorates, three Emmy awards, the National Medal of the Arts, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Price recently expanded her talents to include writing. In 1990 she brought the world of opera to young readers with her award-winning retelling of A?da. 020