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The American soprano, Alpha Brawner-Floyd (neé Brawner), was the daughter of Rena Darden Brawner, a registered nurse, and Jeff Brawner, a medical doctor. She received her early voice training under Dr. Willis James at Spelman and from the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. Among her teachers were: Lotte Leonard, Jennie Tourel and Claire Gelda.
Alpha Brawner-Floyd began her career as the debut award winner of the Concert Artists Guild following her debut in the American Opera Society's production of Karl Goldmark's The Queen of Sheba, interpreting the title role (New York City, 1970). Later, she also sang this part in a recording of the opera on the BJR label. She appeared at many major American opera houses throughout her career, most notably at New York City Center Opera, Houston (Texas), San Diego, and Jackson Opera/South Kentucky. From her Lyrico Spinto repertoire should be mentioned: Aida, Leonore in Verdi's Il trovatore, Lady Macbeth in his Macbeth, the title roles in Puccini's Turandot and the Tosca. On January 27, 1972, she created at the Atlanta Opera the title role in the world premiere of a new version of the opera Treemonisha by Scott Joplin (a joint production of the music department of Morehouse College and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, using the orchestration by T.J. Anderson, directed by Katherine Dunham, and conducted by Robert Shaw). In August 1972, she sang the title role in Verdi's Aida at the convention of the National Association of Negro Musicians at the Commodore Hotel in New York City (with Harlem Chorale and Symphony of the New World conducted by Everett Lee). She sang a compelling Lucrezia Contarini in a 1979 performance of Verdi's I Due Foscari. In addition to her work on stage, she also performed successfully in the concert hall. On May 1, 1982, she was one of a group of soloists in a performance of Verdi's Requiem at Salem United Methodist Church in New York City.
Alpha Brawner married the psycologist Arthur Floyd Jr. in December 1965 in New York City. She may be more known to some listeners under her married name, Alpha Floyd. Her elder sister, Clara Arena Brawner (1929-1991) was the only African-American woman physician in Memphis, Tennessee, in the mid-1950's.
Recording: BJR (The Queen of Sheba). |
