Historical May 1990 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
A black and red damask gown, worn by internationally renowned opera star Grace Bumbry, is now on exhibit in the History Museum in the Jefferson Memorial Building in Forest Park. Bumbry is featured in the museum’s new exhibition “Ragtime to Rock ‘n Roll: St. Louis African American Music!’ A graduate of Sumner High School, she opened the new Bastille Opera in Paris, France, last week and received rave reviews for her featured role as Cassandra in Berlioz’s “Troyens!’ Bumbry received her early musical training in St. Louis, where she studied privately with Kenneth Billups and sang in the school choir. KMOX radio arranged for her to appear on Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts, and she earned a scholarship to study at Boston University.
In 1962 she made her first orchestral appearance with the St. Louis Symphony and her New York debut at Carnegie Hall.
After earning acclaim in London, Vienna and Milan, she returned to America in 1965 and debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in “Aida.” She has made over 100 performances at the Met in ten leading roles.
She wore the gown currently on exhibit on February 28, 1965 in St. Louis.
It has a scooped neck, fits the body and flares at the hem to a dramatic train.
The exhibition “Ragtime to Rock ‘n Roll” also features costumes worn by Ron Townson of the Fifth Dimension and Fontella Bass and a guitar played by Chuck Berry.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, May 1990.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source biographical dates, performance counts and debut claims retained as attributed museum announcement, not independently reverified.
Original source: SD_Times1990_05.pdf, printed page(s) 8; PDF page(s) 8.
