- published: 24 Aug 2010
- views: 65577
Leona Mitchell (born October 13, 1949, Enid, Oklahoma), is an African-American and Chickasaw operatic soprano and an Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductee. She is also a Grammy Award-winning soprano who sang for 18 seasons as a leading spinto soprano at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
In her home state of Oklahoma, Miss Mitchell has been awarded many honors. These include the Oklahoma Hall of Fame], the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Her home town of Enid has a street named after her called Leona Mitchell Boulevard, as well as a Museum named in her honor called "The Leona Mitchell Southern Heights Heritage Center and Museum".
The Honorable Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma made her Oklahoma's State Cultural Ambassador. In late 2014, Miss Mitchell was inducted into the Oklahoma African-American Hall of Fame.
Miss Mitchell started singing at an early age in the choir of the Antioch Church of God in Christ in Enid, where her father, Reverend Dr. Hulon Mitchell, was the Minister along with her mother, Dr. Pearl Mitchell, who was the pianist. Leona is the tenth child of Hulon and Pearl Mitchell; There were 15 children born to this union. Leona's Mother went back to school, with her last two sons in high school, and became a Practical Nurse. Leona is the sister of Yahweh Ben Yahweh(born as Hulon Mitchell Jr.)
Mitchell may refer to:
Leona is a female variant of the name Leo or Leon. The name is derived from the Latin leo for "lion". The French form of Leona is Leonie.
Leona may also refer to:
In the United States:
Leona is the name of:
Leona Mitchell sings "Il bel sogno di Doretta" from La Rondine by Giacomo Puccini National Philharmonic Orchestra Kurt Herbert Adler, conductor
Miss Mitchell sang this aria at a Pavorotti & Friends Performance for Lincoln Center
Oklahoma Up Close with Leona Mitchell Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/Foj7/
Leona Mitchell interpreta el suicidio de Liu de la opera "Turandot" de Puccini.
Just Music. Leona Mitchell sings "O Mio Babbino Caro" from Giacomo Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" in this recording with the National Philharmonic Orchestra. The conductor is Kurt Herbert Adler.
Oklahoma Up Close with Leona Mitchell Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/Foj7/
Leona Mitchell sings "Il bel sogno di Doretta" from La Rondine by Giacomo Puccini National Philharmonic Orchestra Kurt Herbert Adler, conductor
Leona Mitchell had this interview from Oklahoma in March 2010
Aida: Leona Mitchell Amneris: Grace Bumbry Radames: Lando Bartolini Amonastro: Ingvar Wixell Ramphis: Mario Luperi Il Re: Georges Pappas Henri Lewis Opera de Marseille 1991
Madama Butterfly. Duet, Act I / Puccini (Leona MITCHELL, Giuliano CIANNELLA)
Leona Mitchell sings "E Susanna non vien" from Le Nozze di Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart National Philharmonic Orchestra Kurt Herbert Adler, conductor
Miss Mitchell sang this aria at a Pavorotti & Friends Performance for Lincoln Center
i know that when you look at me
there's so much that you just don't see
but if you would only take the time
i know in my heart you'd find
a girl who's scared sometimes
who isn't always strong
can't you see the hurt in me?
i feel so all alone
[chorus:]
i want to run to you (oooh)
i want to run to you (oooh)
won't you hold me in your arms
and keep me safe from harm
i want to run to you (oooh)
but if i come to you (oooh)
tell me, will you stay or will you run away
each day, each day i play the role
of someone always in control
but at night i come home and turn the key
there's nobody there, no one cares for me
what's the sense of trying hard to find your dreams
without someone to share it with
tell me what does it mean?
[chorus]
i need you here
i need you here to wipe away my tears
to kiss away my fears
if you only knew how much