149:
Wilhelmenia
Wiggins was born in Philadelphia on January 5, 1949, to Ernest and Vinelee (Clayton) Wiggins. As a child she sang with the choir of the Main Street Baptist church. In her teens, she sang with the choir of the
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French film director Jean-Jacques
Beineix saw her Musetta performance and cast her as the title character of his 1981 film
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Thereafter, she sang in operas and recitals in cities all over the world. Her more notable roles were the title roles in
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disliked the film and wrote that
Fernandez "is no actress yet, though she has great film presence".
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592:"Famed South Philadelphia soprano Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, star of 'Diva,' dies at 75"
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409:"'Diva' Film soprano Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez Smith has Died at 75"
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Fernandez died on
February 2, 2024, at the age of 75, of cancer, in
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and received formal training under soprano Tillie
Barmach at the
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376:"Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, the Diva of 'Diva,' Dies at 75"
302:. She also sang as part of a number of television appearances.
437:"Obituary: 'Diva' Soprano Wilhelmenia Fernandez Dies at 75"
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Fernandez' 1981 recording of "Ebben? Ne andrò lontana" for
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Dobrin, Peter; Stearns, David
Patrick (February 6, 2024).
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in New York City. She made her operatic debut as Bess in
634:"Wilhelmenia Fernandez-Smith, opera singer, dies at 75"
127:; January 5, 1949 – February 2, 2024) was an American
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Laurence
Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical
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313:(in Georgetown, Kentucky) in voice and education.
165:and then studied as a scholarship student at the
141:, credited as "Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez".
382:. Vol. 173, no. 60066. p. B10.
109:Ormon Fernandez (1971–1976; divorced; 1 child)
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231:that year and returned to sing Marguerite in
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111:Andrew William Smith (2001–2018; his death)
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223:She performed the role of Musetta at the
569:The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization
458:Lowen Finn, Terri (November 20, 1983).
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565:"Carmen Jones: 1991 West End Premiere"
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285:in 1992 as Best Actress in a Musical.
281:on the London stage she received the
16:American operatic soprano (1949–2024)
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1057:African-American women opera singers
374:Williams, Alex (February 16, 2024).
632:Jackson, James (February 7, 2024).
137:, the 1981 film by French director
490:"French 'Diva' Opens at the Plaza"
305:Fernandez earned degrees from the
292:was included on the soundtrack of
152:William Penn High School for Girls
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488:Canby, Vincent (April 16, 1982).
320:, where she had lived for years.
337:Heaton, Michael (May 9, 1983).
1062:Deaths from cancer in Kentucky
1052:Laurence Olivier Award winners
283:Laurence Olivier Theatre Award
266:. She also made recordings of
1:
1067:University of Kentucky alumni
439:. Operawire. February 6, 2024
125:Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez
46:Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez
621:"The 'Diva' of South Philly"
258:, role she has performed in
227:in 1982. She debuted at the
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1047:American operatic sopranos
64:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1042:Singers from Philadelphia
541:"Detroit Opera and Faust"
167:Juilliard School of Music
299:Someone to Watch Over Me
941:Eleanor Worthington Cox
156:Settlement Music School
464:s Diva in State Debut"
307:University of Kentucky
809:Wilhelmenia Fernandez
661:Wilhelmenia Fernandez
652:Wilhelmenia Fernandez
596:Philadelphia Inquirer
163:Academy of Vocal Arts
123:(sometimes billed as
121:Wilhelmenia Fernandez
25:Wilhelmenia Fernandez
887:Laura Michelle Kelly
638:Philadelphia Tribune
139:Jean-Jacques Beineix
716:Anna Sharkey (1977)
571:. December 20, 2021
515:"4 New to 'Boheme'"
318:Lexington, Kentucky
225:New York City Opera
177:Houston Grand Opera
81:Lexington, Kentucky
36:Wilhelmenia Wiggins
1010:Nicole Scherzinger
994:No Ceremony (2021)
869:Martine McCutcheon
791:Patricia Routledge
614:Additional sources
380:The New York Times
311:Georgetown College
131:. She appeared in
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785:Nichola McAuliffe
264:Egyptian pyramids
158:in Philadelphia.
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983:Sharon D. Clarke
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737:Virginia McKenna
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627:. July 25, 1982.
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521:. April 25, 1982
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202:Alfredo Catalani
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827:Ruthie Henshall
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145:Life and career
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937:Sophia Kiely
933:Kerry Ingram
905:Leanne Jones
808:
773:Patti LuPone
749:Carlin Glynn
743:Gemma Craven
720:Elaine Paige
637:
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601:February 16,
599:. Retrieved
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575:February 17,
573:. Retrieved
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549:February 17,
547:. Retrieved
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525:February 17,
523:. Retrieved
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497:. Retrieved
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471:. Retrieved
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418:February 16,
416:. Retrieved
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393:February 16,
391:. Retrieved
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354:February 17,
352:. Retrieved
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294:Ridley Scott
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279:Carmen Jones
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249:Carmen Jones
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76:(2024-02-02)
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1037:2024 deaths
1032:1949 births
971:Amber Riley
911:Elena Roger
799:(1989/1990)
797:Lea Salonga
443:February 7,
262:and at the
99:Solo singer
1026:Categories
845:Ute Lemper
833:Judi Dench
324:References
185:alongside
96:Occupation
57:1949-01-05
32:Birth name
388:0362-4331
204:'s opera
189:and Dame
182:La bohème
105:Spouse(s)
207:La Wally
730:Actress
665:Discogs
460:"'Diva'
216:critic
129:soprano
1012:(2024)
1006:(2023)
1000:(2022)
991:(2020)
985:(2019)
979:(2018)
973:(2017)
967:(2016)
961:(2015)
955:(2014)
949:(2013)
943:(2012)
939:, and
925:(2011)
919:(2010)
913:(2009)
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763:(1983)
757:(1982)
751:(1981)
745:(1980)
739:(1979)
722:(1978)
709:Merged
386:
348:People
243:Carmen
88:Genres
83:, U.S.
66:, U.S.
544:(PDF)
462:'
260:Luxor
234:Faust
656:IMDb
603:2024
577:2024
551:2024
527:2024
501:2024
475:2024
445:2024
420:2024
413:WHYY
395:2024
384:ISSN
356:2024
341:Diva
309:and
290:Diva
255:Aïda
252:and
198:Diva
175:for
134:Diva
71:Died
51:Born
654:at
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