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Simon Estes

Simon Estes, born March 2, 1938, in Centerville, Iowa, is an operatic bass-baritone of African-American descent. His early musical experiences were rooted in his family's Baptist church and school music programs. Estes made his professional debut as Ramfis in Aida at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1965. The following year, he won a bronze medal at Moscow's Tchaikovsky Competition, which led to performances at major European opera houses including La Scala and Covent Garden. In 1978, Estes became the first black male to sing a leading role at the Bayreuth Festival in Der fliegende Ho...