Carol Neblett

2.1. Childhood and Family Background

Carol Lee Neblett was born on February 1, 1946, in Modesto, California, and raised in Redondo Beach, California. Her father was a piano tuner who also served as a Air Force pilot during World War II. Her mother worked as an assistant to the renowned violinist Jascha Heifetz. Neblett began studying the violin at the age of two, learning from her grandmother, who was also a violinist. Her vocal talent was later recognized by Heifetz himself, who encouraged her to pursue singing.

2.2. Vocal Studies

Following Heifetz's encouragement, Neblett pursued formal vocal training. She studied at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and further honed her skills under the tutelage of William Vennard at the University of Southern California (USC).

3.1. Early Performances

Neblett made her professional singing debut in 1964, performing with the Roger Wagner Chorale in Handel's oratorio Esther at Carnegie Hall in New York City. in the same year, she also participated in a performance of Respighi's Lauda per la Natività del Signore (Laud to the Nativity of the Lord) at the Los Angeles Music Center, where she sang the role of the Angel.

3.2. World Tours and Sol Hurok

From 1965 to 1969, Neblett signed a contract with the influential impresario Sol Hurok. This association led to extensive world tours, significantly raising her profile and establishing her reputation as a rising vocal talent on the international stage.

3.3. Operatic Debut

Carol Neblett made her official operatic debut in 1969 with the New York City Opera. Her first role was Musetta in Puccini's beloved opera La bohème. This performance marked the beginning of her long and successful career in opera.

4.1. New York City Opera

Following her debut, Carol Neblett became a stalwart at the New York City Opera, performing many significant roles. Her performances included Musetta in La bohème, Elena in Mefistofele alongside Norman Treigle, Yaroslavna in Prince Igor conducted by Julius Rudel, Marguerite in Faust, Manon in Manon, Louise in Louise opposite John Alexander and later Harry Theyard, Violetta in La traviata, the Queen of Shemakha in Le coq d'or, Micaëla in Carmen with Joy Davidson and staged by Tito Capobianco, the Contessa Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro with Michael Devlin and Susanne Marsee, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Poppea in L'incoronazione di Poppea with Alan Titus as Nerone, Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos directed by Sarah Caldwell, and Marietta in Korngold's Die tote Stadt in Frank Corsaro's production.

4.2. Metropolitan Opera Debut and Career

In 1979, Carol Neblett made her highly anticipated debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. She appeared as Senta in Wagner's The Flying Dutchman, a production by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, starring opposite José van Dam. She continued to perform with the Met until 1993, taking on roles such as the title character in Tosca, Mimì in La bohème, Amelia in Un ballo in maschera with Carlo Bergonzi, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Manon Lescaut in Manon Lescaut, Alice Ford in Falstaff with Giuseppe Taddei, and Minnie in La fanciulla del West.

4.3. Covent Garden and International Engagements

Neblett's international career took her to many of the world's most prestigious opera houses. In 1977, she performed the role of Minnie in Puccini's La fanciulla del West at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London. This particular performance, which featured Plácido Domingo as Dick Johnson, was part of the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II's 25th Jubilee. Her global engagements also included performances in major cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Buenos Aires, Salzburg, Hamburg, and London.

4.4. Notable Operatic Roles

Throughout her career, Carol Neblett was particularly acclaimed for several key operatic roles. These included Musetta in La bohème, the title role in Tosca, Minnie in La fanciulla del West (a role in which she achieved great success), Senta in The Flying Dutchman, and the title role in Thaïs. She was also recognized for her portrayals of the Contessa Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni.

5.1. Thaïs Nude Scene

In 1973, Carol Neblett made international headlines for a brief nude scene in a staging of Massenet's opera Thaïs for the New Orleans Opera Association. The scene, which was part of a contemporary production, attracted considerable media attention and became a widely discussed topic in the opera world.

5.2. Collaborations with Renowned Artists

Neblett frequently collaborated with some of the most celebrated singers and conductors of her time. She performed Tosca with Luciano Pavarotti in Chicago in 1976. Her performance as Minnie in La fanciulla del West at Covent Garden in 1977 featured Plácido Domingo. She recorded La bohème with Renata Scotto, Alfredo Kraus, Sherrill Milnes, and Paul Plishka, under the baton of James Levine. Levine also conducted her in a video production of Mozart's La clemenza di Tito, where she performed alongside Tatiana Troyanos and Éric Tappy. For her recording of La fanciulla del West, she collaborated with Domingo and Milnes, conducted by Zubin Mehta. She also sang in Mahler's Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection") with Claudio Abbado and Marilyn Horne, and recorded Marietta in Die tote Stadt with René Kollo, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf. Other notable collaborators included Norman Treigle, Julius Rudel, John Alexander, Harry Theyard, Joy Davidson, Tito Capobianco, Michael Devlin, Susanne Marsee, Alan Titus, Sarah Caldwell, Frank Corsaro, José van Dam, Carlo Bergonzi, Giuseppe Taddei, Silvano Carroli, and Nello Santi.

5.3. Special Event Performances

In addition to her regular operatic engagements, Neblett participated in several special events. She performed for Queen Elizabeth II's 25th Jubilee Celebration at Covent Garden in 1977. She also appeared on television in a tribute to George London at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and was a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

6.1. Audio Recordings

Her notable audio recordings include:

• Musetta in Puccini's La bohème, recorded in 1979 for Angel/EMI, featuring Renata Scotto, Alfredo Kraus, Sherrill Milnes, and Paul Plishka, with James Levine conducting.
• Minnie in Puccini's La fanciulla del West, recorded in 1977 for DGG, with Plácido Domingo and Sherrill Milnes, conducted by Zubin Mehta.
• The soprano solo in Mahler's Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection"), recorded in 1977 for DGG, with Marilyn Horne and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Claudio Abbado.
• Marietta in Korngold's Die tote Stadt, recorded in 1975 for RCA, featuring René Kollo, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf.

6.2. Video Productions

Neblett also appeared in several filmed opera performances:

• Mozart's La clemenza di Tito, filmed in 1980, with Tatiana Troyanos and Éric Tappy, conducted by James Levine and directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle.
• Puccini's La fanciulla del West, a live recording from 1982, featuring Plácido Domingo and Silvano Carroli, conducted by Nello Santi and directed by Piero Faggioni.

7.1. Retirement from Opera

Carol Neblett retired from her active opera career in 2005, concluding a distinguished period of performances on the world's leading stages.

7.2. Teaching and Academic Roles

Following her retirement from full-time performance, Neblett dedicated herself to music education. She served as an artist in residence and a voice instructor at Chapman University in Southern California. She was also a faculty member at the International Lyric Academy in Rome, Italy.

7.3. Musical Theatre Debut

In 2012, Neblett made her debut in musical theatre, performing in a production of Stephen Sondheim's acclaimed musical Follies.

8.1. Marriages and Divorces

Carol Neblett was married three times, with each marriage ending in divorce. Her first marriage was to the cellist Douglas Davis, which concluded in 1968. She then married the conductor Kenneth Schermerhorn in 1973; this marriage ended in 1979. Her third marriage was to the cardiologist Phillip Akre, which took place in 1981 and ended in 2004.

8.2. Children

Neblett had three children. Her son, Stefan Schermerhorn, was born from her second marriage to Kenneth Schermerhorn. Her third marriage to Phillip Akre produced two daughters, Adrienne Akre Spear and Marianne Akre. Sadly, her daughter Marianne Akre predeceased her in 2001.

9.1. Final Years and Passing

Carol Lee Neblett died at the age of 71 on November 23, 2017, in Los Angeles. She was survived by her son Stefan, her daughter Adrienne, a sister, a brother, and four grandchildren.