Lorraine Hunt Lieberson

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson ( born March 1, 1954 in San Francisco, † July 3, 2006 in Santa Fe) was an American mezzo-soprano.

Life

Lorraine Hunt was the daughter of a music teacher and conductor and a singer and singing teacher. She had first piano lessons, but played from the age of 12 only viola and was active as a singer. She later studied voice and viola at the San Jose State University.

In 1985, she was discovered by the renowned opera director Peter Sellars and committed to Handel's Giulio Cesare. It was later followed by engagements at the major opera houses in the world. She became known for her broad repertoire ranged from Bach cantatas and classical opera to modern music. She worked nevertheless repeatedly for small ensembles such as the Boston Orchestra of Emmanuel Music, and also interpreted pieces still unknown young composers.

She married in 2000 the composer Peter Lieberson and gave concerts with his songs. In 2002 she appeared for example in Los Angeles on with songs by Rainer Maria Rilke.

She succumbed to the effects of cancer.

Posthumously, she received the 2007 Grammy " Best Classical Vocal Performance " for the album " Peter Lieberson: Rilke Songs, The Six Realms, Horn Concerto"