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Arkansas to Met Opera: Mignon Dunn's Star Soared
28 Jun
Summary
- Mignon Dunn sang over 650 times at the Met over 35 years.
- She performed the role of Carmen more than 400 times.
- Dunn retired from teaching at Manhattan School of Music in 2023.
Mignon Dunn, an American mezzo soprano whose journey began in rural Arkansas, realized her lifelong ambition to perform at the Metropolitan Opera, gracing its stage over 650 times in 35 years.
Her career was marked by a remarkable versatility, encompassing iconic roles like Carmen, which she performed more than 400 times, as well as dramatic Italian and Wagnerian parts. Dunn made her operatic debut in 1955 and her Met debut in 1958, eventually becoming a celebrated artist.
Beyond her stage career, Dunn transitioned to academia, joining the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music in 1988 and teaching at other prestigious institutions. She retired from teaching in 2023, leaving a lasting legacy in the opera world. Dunn passed away on Sunday in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the age of 98.
