Mignon Dunn

Who is Mignon Dunn?

Mignon Dunn is a leading American dramatic mezzo-soprano. She made her official debut, in the title role of Carmen, on September 8, 1955, with the Experimental Opera Theatre of America/New Orleans Opera Association, with Norman Treigle in his first Escamillo, conducted by Renato Cellini, and directed by Armando Agnini.

In 1956, Dunn made her first appearance with the New York City Opera, in a small role in Troilus and Cressida, and sang with that company again in 1957, then in 1972 and 1975. The mezzo-soprano made the first of her 653 appearances with the Metropolitan Opera in 1958, as the Nourrice in Boris Godunov, conducted by Dmitri Mitropoulos. She went on to portray a great variety of roles with that company; her final performance there was as Klytemnästra, in Elektra, in 1994.

Dunn also sang with the Teatro alla Scala, Vienna Staatsoper, Covent Garden, Paris Opéra, Bolshoi Opera, Teatro Colón, and the Verona Arena. She was married to Austrian conductor Kurt Klippstätter from 1972 until his death in January 2000.