Sylvia McNair

Sylvia McNair is an American soprano celebrated for her luminous voice, exceptional versatility, and profound musicianship across opera, concert, and Broadway stages. With a career spanning over four decades, she has garnered acclaim for her interpretations of Mozart and Strauss heroines, her extensive oratorio and art song repertoire, and her successful forays into the Great American Songbook. McNair is a two-time Grammy Award winner, recognized for her significant contributions to both classical and crossover recordings.

Early life and education

Born in Mansfield, Ohio, McNair was raised in a musical family; her father was a Presbyterian minister and her mother a church organist. She began piano studies at age five and later learned the violin, playing in the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra during her youth. She pursued higher education at Wheaton College in Illinois, graduating with a degree in violin performance. Her vocal talent soon became evident, leading her to graduate studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she studied under the esteemed pedagogue Virginia MacWatters and earned a Master of Music degree.

Career

McNair's professional breakthrough came in 1980 when she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She quickly established herself as a sought-after artist in the concert world, making acclaimed debuts with major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Cleveland Orchestra under conductors like Leonard Slatkin and Seiji Ozawa. Her operatic career flourished with signature roles such as Pamina in *The Magic Flute*, Sophie in *Der Rosenkavalier*, and Ilia in *Idomeneo* at houses including the Metropolitan Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, and the Vienna State Opera. Beyond the classical sphere, McNair has starred in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, such as a celebrated revival of Stephen Sondheim's *A Little Night Music*, and has performed and recorded popular standards with artists like André Previn and Michael Feinstein.

Awards and recognition

McNair's artistry has been honored with numerous prestigious awards. She is a two-time Grammy winner; her first was for Best Classical Vocal Performance for the album *The Echoing Air: The Music of Henry Purcell* with Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music, and her second for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (with orchestra) for *American Scenes* with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin. Other significant accolades include the Richard Tucker Award, the Marian Anderson Award, and an Opera News Award. She has also received honorary doctorates from Wheaton College and the University of Notre Dame.

Personal life

McNair married Hal France, a conductor and former artistic director of the Omaha Symphony, in 1991. The couple resided in Bloomington, Indiana, where McNair served on the faculty of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music as a professor of voice. She is known for her deep Christian faith, which has influenced her choice of repertoire, including numerous recordings of sacred music. In 2006, she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood disorder; after undergoing a successful bone marrow transplant, she became an advocate for bone marrow donation and has spoken publicly about her health journey.

Discography

McNair possesses an extensive and diverse discography on labels such as Philips, Decca, and Nonesuch. Notable classical recordings include Mozart's *Great Mass in C minor* with John Eliot Gardiner, Strauss's *Four Last Songs* with the London Symphony Orchestra, and Handel's *Semele* with John Nelson. Her crossover albums, such as *Sure Thing: The Jerome Kern Songbook* and *The Music of Gershwin*, showcase her elegant approach to American popular music. Collaborations with André Previn (*Come Rain or Come Shine*) and pianist Roger Vignoles on art song repertoire are also highlights of her recorded legacy.

Category:American sopranos Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Indiana University alumni Category:1956 births Category:Living people