It was 1957 and the University of Texas at Austin student won the lead role of Dido in the college’s production of “Dido and Aeneas,” a story of two lovers. But after receiving racist threats and phone calls because her leading man was White, school administrators yanked her from the opera. The decision sparked a national firestorm.
“It was a terrible day,” recalls Conrad, now an opera star living in New York. “That would have been a crowning moment for a girl who’s never been in an opera.”
In the 53 years since, Conrad and the University of Texas have worked toward healing the rift. And now the mezzo soprano is getting another chance to perform for her school, this time as the voice for five new television ads promoting the school.
