Resources

Florist Directory

Evelyn Lear

Obituary

Guest Book

"Already a great fan of Evelyn Lear from her recordings I..."
- David Murphy
"Hello Bonni, I was greatly saddened to hear of your..."
- Hely Tjaden
"My son-in-law was a student of Evelyn's and I was invited..."
- Sue Higdon
- Alice Guckian Queen
"Our deepest sympathies to Ms.Lears family and friends. May..."
- B Williams

View Sign

Evelyn Lear (Associated Press Photo)

WASHINGTON (AP) - American soprano Evelyn Lear, who became an opera star in Europe while singing some of the most difficult contemporary operas before returning to the U.S., has died. She was 86.

Longtime friend and collaborator John Edward Niles says Lear died Sunday at a nursing home in Sandy Spring, Md. He says she had been ailing for months after suffering a mild stroke.

Lear and her late husband Thomas Stewart, the acclaimed bass-baritone, settled in the Maryland suburbs near Washington after singing together for decades around the world. They wanted to be closer to their grandchildren.

After being overlooked by U.S. opera houses, Lear won fame in Vienna singing the title character in Alban Berg's "Lulu."

Leaders in the opera world are lauding her versatility, beauty, musicality and stage presence.

BRETT ZONGKER, Associated Press

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Print | View Guest Book

Related Memorial Sites