Above: Annabelle Bernard as Aida
A native of New Orleans, soprano Annabelle Bernard began singing publicly in public school and in church. Her formal voice training began at an opera workshop under the direction of her music teacher, Edwin Hogan. Professor Hogan arranged an audition for the young soprano at Xavier University’s music department; she won a scholarship to attend the university (1952-1956), singing in operas and concerts on campus. Ms. Bernard went on to further studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. After earning both a Master of Arts degree and an Artist's degree, Ms. Bernard continued her studies in Europe at the prestigious Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and at the Stuttgart Conservatory of Music.
In 1961, after winning the top prize in the International Radio Competition in Munich, Germany, Annabelle Bernard made her debut as Aida under Maestro Karl Böhm at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. That company would remain her artistic home for the next 40 years; among her roles were Manon Lescaut, Cio-Cio-San, Fiordiligi, Leonora in TROVATORE, and Tatyana in EUGEN ONEGIN. In 1970, Bernard received the West German honorific title of Kammersänerin.
In 1976, Ms. Bernard returned in triumph to New Orleans, appearing as Maddalena in ANDREA CHENIER; while in the USA, she also sang at the Kennedy Center and at Carnegie Hall.
After retiring from the Berlin Opera in 2000, Annabelle Bernard returned to live in New Orleans, where she passed away in 2005.
Listen to the voice of Annabelle Bernard in an aria from IL TROVATORE here.