Diane Curry

The daughter of Frances and Ashton Curry, Curry studied vocal music at Westminster Choir College where she graduated with a B.M. in Music (1960) and a M.M. in Music (1961). She spent the next decade teaching on the voice faculties at Westminster and at the University of Delaware before joining the roster of artists at the New York City Opera where she performed regularly from 1972 to 1981. Roles she performed with the NYCO included Annina in Der Rosenkavalier,{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1973/02/23/79845468.pdf|title=City Opera Starts Its Season With Der Rosenkavalier|author=Harold C. Schonberg|author-link=Harold C. Schonberg|date=February 23, 1973|work=The New York Times}} Berta in The Barber of Seville, Emma Jones in Street Scene, Enrichetta in I puritani,{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9401E1DB1031EF34BC4A51DFB466838F669EDE|title=Sills Joins Greats In 'Puritani' Role|author=Harold C. Schonberg|author-link=Harold C. Schonberg|work=The New York Times|date=February 22, 1974}} Magdalena in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg,{{cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1975/10/24/76618042.pdf|title=Opera: 'Mastersingers': City Company Offers a Wagner in English|date=October 24, 1975|page=28|work=The New York Times|author=Donal Henahan|author-link=Donal Henahan}} Mama Lucia in Cavalleria rusticana,{{cite news|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1976/09/14/80142396.html|title=Music: City Opera 'Cav' and 'Pag'; Maralin Niska Is Santuzza and Patricia Craig Sings Nedda in Inventive Stagings by Corsaro|author=Peter G. Davis|author-link=Peter G. Davis|date=September 14, 1976|work=The New York Times}} Mary in The Flying Dutchman, Neris in Médée,{{cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1974/04/29/91439227.pdf|title=12 Musicians Keen In Modern Works: Speculum Concert Brilliant in Timing and Virtuosity|author=Peter G. Davis|date=April 29, 1974|page=46|work=The New York Times}} Olga in Eugene Onegin,{{cite news|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1975/01/20/140208842.html?pageNumber=23|title=The New World Catches Spirit of 'Eugene Onegin': Janet Baker, Davis Excel in Mahler Dove Trio Plays With Easy Charm MacKenzie, Pianist, Offers Odd Mix|work=The New York Times|date=January 20, 1975|page=23|author=John Rockwell|author-link=John Rockwell}} the Second Lady in The Magic Flute,{{cite news|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1973/10/30/91022980.html?pageNumber=34|title=Opera: 'The Magic Flute' City Troupe's 'Rebuilt' Version Retains Charm in Patrick Bakman's Restaging|date=October 30, 1973|work=The New York Times|author=Donal Henahan|author-link=Donal Henahan}} Suzuki in Madama Butterfly,{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1973/10/07/90999334.pdf|title=Music In Review|author=Allen Hughes|author-link=Allen Hughes|work=The New York Times|date=October 7, 1973}} and the title role in Carmen{{cite news|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1975/10/18/79107686.html?pageNumber=13|title=City Opera 'Carmen' Lacks Proper Emotional Intensity|date=October 18, 1975|page=13|work=The New York Times|author=Robert Sherman|author-link=Robert Sherman (music critic)}} among others.

In 1976 Curry created the role of Mildred in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti's The Hero at the Opera Company of Philadelphia.Bender, William, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110220112954/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914228,00.html "Music: Souvenir Opera"], Time, 14 June 1976 She subsequently returned to Philadelphia regularly through 1995, portraying Geneviève in Pelléas et Mélisande, Herodias in Salome, La Frugala in Il Tabarro, Mistress Quickly in Verdi's Falstaff, the Princess in Suor Angelica, and Zita in Gianni Schicchi.

In 1979 Curry made her debuts at the Opera Theater of Saint Louis as The Voice in Ottorino Respighi's Lucrezia{{cite journal|title=Lucretia Gets It Again|author=Alan Rich|author-link=Alan Rich|journal=New York|date=July 9–16, 1979}} and as Madelon in Andrea Chénier at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.{{cite web|url=http://www.lyricopera.org/about/cast_1970.aspx|title=Cast Lists 1970–1979|work=Lyric Opera of Chicago Archives|accessdate=March 27, 2015}} She subsequently returned to Chicago in the roles of Federica in Luisa Miller (1982), Katisha in The Mikado (1983), and La Cieca in La Gioconda (1987).{{cite web|url=http://www.lyricopera.org/about/cast_1980.aspx|title=Cast Lists 1980–1989|work=Lyric Opera of Chicago Archives|accessdate=March 27, 2015}} From 1981 to 1986 she performed annually in Seattle Opera's first production of Wagner's The Ring Cycle under director Speight Jenkins, portraying Fricka in Das Rheingold and Die Walküre and Waltraute/Second Norn in Götterdämmerung.{{cite web|url=http://seattleopera50.com/tag/diane-curry/|title=Diane Curry|work=Seattle Opera Performance Archives|accessdate=March 28, 2015}}

In 1989 Curry made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera as The Nurse in Strauss' Die Frau ohne Schatten under the baton of Christof Perick. She returned to the Met several more times in her career, portraying the Innkeeper in Boris Godunov (1998), the Mother in Lulu (2001), the Housemaid in War and Peace (2002), and the Aunt in Jenůfa (2003).{{cite web|url=http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/gisrch2k.r?Term=Curry,%20Diane%20%5BMezzo%20Soprano%5D&limit=2500&vsrchtype=no&xBranch=ALL&xmtype=&Start=&End=&theterm=Curry,%20Diane%20%5BMezzo%20Soprano%5D&srt=&x=0&xHome=&xHomePath=|title=Diane Curry|work=Metropolitan Opera Archives|accessdate=March 27, 2015}} In 1990 she made her debut at the San Francisco Opera as Ulrica in Un ballo in maschera.{{cite web|url=http://archive.sfopera.com/qry3WebCastlist_l.asp?psearchall=on&psearch=Diane%20Curry&psearchtype=|title=Diane Curry|work=San Francisco Opera Archives|accessdate=March 27, 2015}}

Curry has also performed in leading roles internationally, including performances at the Arena di Verona, Bavarian State Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Hamburg State Opera, La Scala, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and the Paris Opera among others. In 1976 she made her debut at the Festival dei Due Mondi as Bianca in Benjamin Britten's The Rape of Lucretia.{{cite web|url=http://premiereopera.net/product/the-rape-of-lucretia-by-britten-spoleto-1976|title=The Rape of Lucretia by Britten, Spoleto 1976|accessdate=March 28, 2015}} In 1982 she made her debut with the Canadian Opera Company as Mistress Quickly in Verdi's Falstaff.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GLHmtnSvFbIC&q=%22diane+curry%22+%22opera%22&pg=PA267|title=Opera Viva: The Canadian Opera Company The First Fifty Years|page=267|author=Ezra Schabas|publisher=Dundurn Press|year=2000|isbn=9781459721173}}

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• [http://www.bruceduffie.com/curry.html Interview with Diane Curry], January 28, 1987

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Category:1938 births

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:American operatic mezzo-sopranos

Category:University of Delaware faculty

Category:Westminster Choir College alumni

Category:Westminster Choir College faculty