Yma Sumac

Birthday: 1923-09-10
Deathday: 2008-11-01
Birthplace: Ichocan, Cajamarca, Peru
Gender: Female
Owned By: Unowned

Yma Sumac (born Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chávarri del Castillo, September 10, 1923 – November 1, 2008), was a Peruvian–American coloratura soprano. In the 1950s, she was one of the most famous exponents of exotica music.

Sumac became an international success based on her extreme vocal range. She had six and a half octaves according to some reports, but other reports (and recordings) document four and a half at the peak of her singing career. (A typical trained singer has a range of about three octaves).

Credits

Year Title Character
1993-06-01 Yma Sumac: The Inca Castafiore
1972-02-27 Fol-de-Rol Various Characters
1960-09-15 Las canciones unidas
1958-07-17 Music of Always
1957-08-23 Omar Khayyam Karina
1954-06-06 Secret of the Incas Kori-Tica