Death of a Met soprano, 77
mainWe have been informed of the death of Ruth Falcon, who sang four roles at the Met between 1989 and 1996, including Turandot.
She also appeared at Covent Garden, Paris, Vienna, Munich, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro la Fenice, Teatro Colón, Opéra de Monte-Carlo, and Aix-en-Provence Festival.
In recent years, she was a much sought-after voice teacher at Mannes.
How very sad. She will be missed by many who knew her. I met her when she lived in Munich in the early 80’s before she became a voice teacher. RIP.
A very fine Turandot and ‘Frau’ Empress at Covent Garden if my memory serves me well.
RIP.
She was a wonderful Chrysothemis and Empress in Covent Garden! Her co-stars were in both were Gwyneth Jones and Helga Dernesch – unforgettable!
We took our very young son to the Met to see Hansel und Gretel in the late ’90s – a life-changing event for him – and met Ruth Falcon (Gertrud) backstage. Ms. Falcon could not have been kinder to him – she was a lovely person who will be missed.
She was also an unsurpassed Helmwige and 3rd Norn in Janowski’s splendid Ring recording with the Staatskapelle Dresden (1980-83).
Ruth Falcon was a huge personality and a very fine soprano who had a voice and technique which could allow her to sing just about anything…from Donna Anna to Leonore in Fidelio, Anna Bolena both Verdi Leonora’s- Trovatore and Forza, d Don Carlos to The Kaiserin, Chrysothemis and Turandot, to name just a few of the many, many roles which she sang all over the world. She was also an amazing musician. She learned the role of Chrysothemis in not much over 24 hours when she sang this part for the first time at Carnegie Hall in New York. Ruth Falcon began her teaching career while still very active as a singer, first in Paris and then in New York. It is no exaggeration to say that she was recognized as one of the most important voice teachers in the world. She loved life, she was exuberant and funny and so intelligent. No one who knew her will ever forget her. I am very sure of that.
A dear friend of my mom dramatic soprano Elinor Ross and an outstanding singer. So sad!