Marguerite Piazza
Encyclopedia
Marguerite Piazza is an American
soprano
and entertainer.
In 1935, Piazza was the first Queen of the Krewe of Virgilians, during Mardi Gras
, in New Orleans. A 1940 graduate of Loyola University of the South's College of Music, she then studied at Louisiana State University
, where she was a student of the baritone Pasquale Amato
. In 1944, Piazza joined the New York City Opera
, in its first Spring Season, as the youngest member of the company. Her first role at the City Center was Nedda in Pagliacci
, and in subsequent seasons she appeared in La bohème
(as Musetta), Der Zigeunerbaron, Don Giovanni
(as Donna Elvira), Amelia al ballo (as Amelia) and Troubled Island.
In New Orleans she made her first appearance with the New Orleans Opera Association
in Martha
(in 1945), followed by Hänsel und Gretel (as Gretel), as well as the title role in Il segreto di Susanna.
In 1950, Piazza made her Broadway
debut, in Happy as Larry, with Burgess Meredith
directing and starring in the title rôle, and Alexander Calder
designing. As a result of that production, the soprano was invited to join the cast of the NBC television program "Your Show of Shows
," with Sid Caesar
and Imogene Coca
from 1950 to 1954.
La Piazza made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera
in 1951, as Rosalinde von Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus
. Following the end of "Your Show of Shows," she embarked on a career in supper and night clubs, bringing her further acclaim as an entertainer.
During the 1950s Piazza was a paid spokeswoman for Camel cigarettes. In 1968, she endured three cancer-related operations on her face. In 1973, she was treated successfully for cervical and uterine cancer.
Piazza had four marriages and six children. In 1975, one of her sons committed suicide, according to her autobiography.
On January 15, 1973, the Willis Music Company published Marguerite Piazza's Christmas Carol Sing-Along Party. Piazza's autobiography (co-authored with her daughter, Marguerite Bonnett), Pagliacci Has Nothing on Me!, was published in 2007 (ISBN 978-1-84728-394-8).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
and entertainer.
In 1935, Piazza was the first Queen of the Krewe of Virgilians, during Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras
The terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
, in New Orleans. A 1940 graduate of Loyola University of the South's College of Music, she then studied at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
, where she was a student of the baritone Pasquale Amato
Pasquale Amato
Pasquale Amato was an outstanding Italian operatic baritone. Amato enjoyed an international reputation but attained the peak of his fame in New York City, where he sang with the Metropolitan Opera from 1908 until 1921....
. In 1944, Piazza joined the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
, in its first Spring Season, as the youngest member of the company. Her first role at the City Center was Nedda in Pagliacci
Pagliacci
Pagliacci , sometimes incorrectly rendered with a definite article as I Pagliacci, is an opera consisting of a prologue and two acts written and composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo. It recounts the tragedy of a jealous husband in a commedia dell'arte troupe...
, and in subsequent seasons she appeared in La bohème
La bohème
La bohème is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions quadro, a tableau or "image", rather than atto . by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger...
(as Musetta), Der Zigeunerbaron, Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the Teatro di Praga on October 29, 1787...
(as Donna Elvira), Amelia al ballo (as Amelia) and Troubled Island.
In New Orleans she made her first appearance with the New Orleans Opera Association
New Orleans Opera
Opera has long been part of the musical culture of New Orleans, Louisiana. Operas have regularly been performed in the city since the 1790s, and for the majority of the city's history since the early 19th century, New Orleans has had a resident company regularly performing opera in addition to...
in Martha
Martha (opera)
Martha, oder Der Markt zu Richmond is a 'romantic comic' opera in four acts by Friedrich von Flotow, set to a German libretto by Friedrich Wilhelm Riese and based on a story by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges....
(in 1945), followed by Hänsel und Gretel (as Gretel), as well as the title role in Il segreto di Susanna.
In 1950, Piazza made her Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut, in Happy as Larry, with Burgess Meredith
Burgess Meredith
Oliver Burgess Meredith , known professionally as Burgess Meredith, was an American actor in theatre, film, and television, who also worked as a director...
directing and starring in the title rôle, and Alexander Calder
Alexander Calder
Alexander Calder was an American sculptor and artist most famous for inventing mobile sculptures. In addition to mobile and stable sculpture, Alexander Calder also created paintings, lithographs, toys, tapestry, jewelry and household objects.-Childhood:Alexander "Sandy" Calder was born in Lawnton,...
designing. As a result of that production, the soprano was invited to join the cast of the NBC television program "Your Show of Shows
Your Show of Shows
Your Show of Shows is a live 90-minute variety show that appeared weekly in the United States on NBC , from February 25, 1950, until June 5, 1954, featuring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca....
," with Sid Caesar
Sid Caesar
Isaac Sidney "Sid" Caesar is an Emmy award winning American comic actor and writer known as the leading man on the 1950s television series Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour, and to younger generations as Coach Calhoun in Grease and Grease 2.- Early life :Caesar was born in Yonkers, New York,...
and Imogene Coca
Imogene Coca
Imogene Fernandez de Coca was an American comic actress best known for her role opposite Sid Caesar on Your Show of Shows....
from 1950 to 1954.
La Piazza made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in 1951, as Rosalinde von Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée.- Literary sources :...
. Following the end of "Your Show of Shows," she embarked on a career in supper and night clubs, bringing her further acclaim as an entertainer.
During the 1950s Piazza was a paid spokeswoman for Camel cigarettes. In 1968, she endured three cancer-related operations on her face. In 1973, she was treated successfully for cervical and uterine cancer.
Piazza had four marriages and six children. In 1975, one of her sons committed suicide, according to her autobiography.
Philanthropy
Piazza is celebrated for her extensive efforts regarding various charities, especially the annual Marguerite Piazza Gala.On January 15, 1973, the Willis Music Company published Marguerite Piazza's Christmas Carol Sing-Along Party. Piazza's autobiography (co-authored with her daughter, Marguerite Bonnett), Pagliacci Has Nothing on Me!, was published in 2007 (ISBN 978-1-84728-394-8).