Vera Little

Vera Pearl Little-Augustithis (December 10, 1928 – October 24, 2012) was an American operatic contralto and mezzo-soprano who belonged to the ensemble of the Deutsche Oper Berlin for more than four decades.

She performed each of the important mezzo-soprano roles of the repertoire, appearing at major international opera houses and festivals.

She took part in world premieres of operas by Hans Werner Henze, in 1965 Der junge Lord in Berlin and in 1966 Die Bassariden at the Salzburg Festival.

[1] She was the first African American singer to perform at the invitation of Vittorio Gui in the Vatican before Pope John XXIII, singing a Bach cantata in 1959, which made her internationally known.

[5] She recorded the role of Giovanna in Donizetti's Anna Bolena conducted by Alberto Erede in 1967, broadcast by Westdeutscher Rundfunk.