Legendary Voice Teacher Marlena Malas Dies at 87

Marlena Malas (Photo: Chautauqua School of Music)

Marlena Kleinman Malas, voice teacher to many renowned opera singers, died on December 4, 2023.

What’s Up: On December 4th, Marlena Kleinman Malas passed away at the age of 87. Malas taught at the Manhattan School of Music, the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. She was also Chair of the Voice Department at the Chautauqua Institute as well as a teacher for the Canadian Opera Company (since 1979), the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Program, the English National Opera, the Santa Fe Opera, the Castleton Festival, and the Chicago Lyric Opera Young Artist Program among other places.

Refresher: Marlena Kleinman began her career as a mezzo-soprano, studying at the Curtis Institute and performing at the New York City Opera. In 1963 she married the bass player Spiro Malas. Malas’ many renowned voice students included Susan Graham, Richard Stilwell, Michael Schade, Paul Groves, Matthew Rose, Judith Haddon, Neil Shicoff and Tatiana Troyanos.

Digging Deeper: On social media, tributes from famous singers, opera companies and musical institutions have poured out since Malas’ death. The legendary vocal accompanist and former head of music at the Metropolitan Opera Craig Rutenberg praised her as “the best voice teacher I’ve known in the nearly 60 years I’ve been around teachers” and “a rare musician who brought the four worlds of technique, text, music and beauty together like no one else.” RIP, and thank you, Mrs. Malas.

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a Dora-nominated soprano, writer and yoga teacher. She has performed and created leading roles with companies including Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Dayton Opera, and Aspen Opera, and is a former member of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists. Currently based in Montreal, she is a doctoral student at McGill University — where she recently received the Wirth Vocal Prize — and editor of Art Song Canada magazine.