Opera Singer. A mezzo soprano of wide repertoire, she is probably best remembered for her time at the Metropolitan Opera during the 1980s. Born Geraldine Helen Rice, she was raised in Southern California from an early age and educated in Catholic Schools where her vocal prowess was much commented upon; married soon after graduation, she spent the next years raising her two sons, but when approaching 40 decided to pursue a career in opera. Geraldine made her 1974 bow with the Seattle Opera in the role that would remain her signature, Erda from Wagner's "Ring Cycle"; she made her 1979 Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Mamma Lucia of Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana", the same vehicle that she used for her December 17, 1980 first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera, then over the years earned praise in several repertoire staples, among them Azucena in Verdi's "Il Trovatore", Marthe from Gounod's "Faust", Annina of Verdi's "La Traviata", Klytamnestra in Richard Strauss' "Elektra", Dame Quickly from Verdi's "Falstaff", Albine of Massenet's "Thais", and Schwertleite in Wagner's "Die Walkure". Geraldine was heard in Portland, San Jose, Los Angeles, and elsewhere, made regular returns to Seattle as Erda, was Nelly Dean for the 1982 Portland world premiere of Bernard Herrmann's "Wuthering Heights", and bade farewell to the Met with a March 27, 1987 performance as the Nurse in Mussorgsky's "Boris Godunov". She taught at Pepperdine University, retired to Oxnard, sang in public as late as 2010, died of longstanding diabetes, and can be heard on Franco Zeffirelli's 1982 film of "La Traviata" as well as on a number of archived Metropolitan broadcasts.
Opera Singer. A mezzo soprano of wide repertoire, she is probably best remembered for her time at the Metropolitan Opera during the 1980s. Born Geraldine Helen Rice, she was raised in Southern California from an early age and educated in Catholic Schools where her vocal prowess was much commented upon; married soon after graduation, she spent the next years raising her two sons, but when approaching 40 decided to pursue a career in opera. Geraldine made her 1974 bow with the Seattle Opera in the role that would remain her signature, Erda from Wagner's "Ring Cycle"; she made her 1979 Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Mamma Lucia of Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana", the same vehicle that she used for her December 17, 1980 first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera, then over the years earned praise in several repertoire staples, among them Azucena in Verdi's "Il Trovatore", Marthe from Gounod's "Faust", Annina of Verdi's "La Traviata", Klytamnestra in Richard Strauss' "Elektra", Dame Quickly from Verdi's "Falstaff", Albine of Massenet's "Thais", and Schwertleite in Wagner's "Die Walkure". Geraldine was heard in Portland, San Jose, Los Angeles, and elsewhere, made regular returns to Seattle as Erda, was Nelly Dean for the 1982 Portland world premiere of Bernard Herrmann's "Wuthering Heights", and bade farewell to the Met with a March 27, 1987 performance as the Nurse in Mussorgsky's "Boris Godunov". She taught at Pepperdine University, retired to Oxnard, sang in public as late as 2010, died of longstanding diabetes, and can be heard on Franco Zeffirelli's 1982 film of "La Traviata" as well as on a number of archived Metropolitan broadcasts.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
Gravesite Details
Ashes buried with her parents.
Family Members
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