Bidu Sayão
Bidu Sayão - soprano
Person from Brazil
Genres: classical, opera, brazilian, soprano
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About Bidu Sayão
Bidu Sayão (born Balduína "Bidú" de Oliveira Sayão; 11 May 1902 – 12 March 1999) was a legendary Brazilian opera soprano. One of Brazil's most famous performers, Sayão was a leading artist of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City from 1937 to 1952. Known for her ethereal, silvery tone and a stage presence of delicacy and refinement, she remains one of the most beloved sopranos in the history of opera. Life and Career Bidu Sayão was born to a cultured, upper-class family in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro. Her father, Pedro Luiz de Oliveira Sayão, died when she was five years old, leaving her mother, Maria José, to support Bidu's musical ambitions. Though she initially dreamed of being an actress, such a career was considered unsuitable for a girl from a "respectable family" at the time. Turning to music, she studied under Elena Teodorini and later traveled to Nice to become a pupil of the renowned Polish tenor Jean de Reszke. At age eighteen, she made her major debut in Rio de Janeiro. By the mid-1920s and early 1930s, she was performing in the world’s great houses, including the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Paris Opera, and the Opéra Comique, where she gained fame as Lakmé. Her repertoire included roles such as Lucia di Lammermoor, Amina in La sonnambula, and Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. Metropolitan Opera and International Fame Sayão made her U.S. debut at Town Hall in New York City in 1935. Her performances soon caught the attention of Arturo Toscanini, who became her greatest supporter and lifelong friend, affectionately calling her "la picolla brasiliana." She debuted at the Metropolitan Opera on 13 February 1937, replacing Lucrezia Bori as Manon. Her success was instantaneous; she soon became the pre-eminent Zerlina (Don Giovanni) and Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro) of her generation. During her career, she formed a significant artistic partnership with the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. Their collaboration resulted in the iconic recording of "Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5," which remains one of her most celebrated works. Personal Life and Retirement Sayão was married twice: first to impresario Walter Mocchi, and later, in 1935, to the Italian baritone Giuseppe Danise. Choosing to retire while still at her vocal peak, she gave her final opera performance in 1952 and retired completely from the public stage in 1957. She spent her later years at her oceanfront property in Lincolnville, Maine. Later Years and Legacy In 1995, Sayão returned to Rio for a final tribute during Carnaval, where the Beija-Flor de Nilópolis samba school honored her life story. She passed away from pneumonia in 1999 at the age of 96 in Rockport, Maine. Following her wishes, her ashes were scattered across the bay in front of her home. Today, her legacy continues through the Bidu Sayão International Vocal Competition, established to promote Brazilian operatic talent. Bibliography Rasponi, Lanfranco. The Last Prima Donnas. Alfred A. Knopf, 1982. Source: Wikipedia - Bidu Sayão
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