Benita Valente
Benita Valente (October 19, 1934 – October 24, 2025) was an American soprano in opera, lieder, chamber music and oratorio. She appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City from 1973 through 1992, as Almirena in Handel's Rinaldo, as Mozart's Pamina, Susanna and Ilia, and Verdi's Gilda and Nanetta. She performed and recorded a broad repertoire of lieder, and was particularly interested in contemporary music; several composers wrote music for her. She performed with the Juilliard String Quartet Schoenberg's String Quartet No. 2, earning a 1978 Grammy Award, and Alberto Ginastera's Third String Quartett, written for her. John Rockwell from The New York Times wrote about her in a 1983 recital review: "as gifted a singer as we have today, worldwide".
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Romanze "Ich schleiche bang' und still herum" (Arr. for Voice, Clarinet & Piano) - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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Gretchen am Spinnrade, Op. 2, D. 118 - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 2, Lied der Mignon "Heiss mich nicht reden" - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 3, Lied der Mignon "So lasst mich scheinen" - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 4, Lied der Mignon "Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt" - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 7, Die Lotosblume - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 24, Du bist wie eine Blume - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 13, Marienwürmchen - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 5, Heimkehr - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 8, Allerseelen - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 3, Einerlei - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 1, Wie erkenn ich mein Treulieb - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 2, Guten Morgen - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 3, Sie trugen ihn auf der Bahre bloss - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 1, Zueignung [Version for Voice & Piano] - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 3, Die Nacht - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 2, Ständchen - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 2, Cäcilie (Version for Voice & Piano) - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 6, Er ist's - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 3, Verschwiegene Liebe - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 12, Verborgenheit - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 7, Das verlassene Mägdlein - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 12, In dem Schatten meiner Locken - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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No. 6, Mausfallensprüchlein - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 2 -
Benita Valente
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Beau soir - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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Mandoline - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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Pantomime - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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Clair de lune - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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Pierrot - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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Apparition - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
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No. 1, C'est l'extase - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
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No. 2, Il pleure dans mon coeur - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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No. 3, L'ombre des arbres - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
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No. 4, Chevaux de bois - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
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No. 5, Green - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
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No. 6, Spleen - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
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En sourdine - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
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Clair de lune - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
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Fantoches - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
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Les berceaux, Op. 23, No. 1 - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
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Notre amour, Op. 23, No. 2 - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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Le secret, Op. 23, No. 3 - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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Clair de lune, Op. 46, No. 2 - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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Spleen, Op. 51, No. 3 - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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No. 1, Mandoline - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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No. 2, En sourdine - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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No. 3, Green - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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No. 4, A Clymene - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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No. 5, C'est l'extase - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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Au bord de l'eau, Op. 8, No. 1 - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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Fleur jetee, Op. 39, No. 2 - Songs of Debussy and Fauré -
Benita Valente
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Un moto di gioia mi sento, K. 579 (Arr. for Voice & Piano) - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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Deh vieni non tardar - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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Vorrei spiegarvi, o Dio, K. 418 - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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Lascia ch'io pianga - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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Heidenröslein, Op. 3 No. 3, D. 257 - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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Nacht und Träume, Op. 43 No. 2, D. 827 - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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Rastlose Liebe, Op. 5 No. 1, D. 138 - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D. 965 (Live) - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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Meine Liebe ist grün, Op. 63 No. 5 - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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Vergebliches Ständchen, Op. 84 No. 4 - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 1, Auch kleine Dinge - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 2, Mir ward gesagt - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 6, Wer rief dich denn? - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 10, Du denkst mit einem Fädchen mich zu fangen - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 11, Wie lange schon war immer mein Verlangen - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 16, Ihr jungen Leute - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 20, Mein Liebster singt - No. 43, Schweig einmal still - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 46, Ich hab in Penna einen Liebsten wohnen - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 2, Il pleure dans mon coeur - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 4, Paysages belges [Chevaux de bois] - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 5, Aquarelles I [Green] - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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No. 6, Aquarelles II [Spleen] - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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No. 2, Al amor - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 5, Con amores, la mi madre - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
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No. 6, Del cabello más sutil - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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No. 7, Chiquitita la novia [Coplas de curro dulce] - Great Singers of the 20th Century, Vol. 1 -
Benita Valente
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Symphony No. 4 "String Symphony": I. Elegance - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
Benita Valente
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Symphony No. 4 "String Symphony": II. Beauty Alone - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
Benita Valente
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Symphony No. 4 "String Symphony": III. Ferocious Rhythm - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
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Songs of Light and Love for Soprano and Chamber Orchestra: No. 1, Invocation - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
Benita Valente
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Songs of Light and Love for Soprano and Chamber Orchestra: No. 2, The Snow Light - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
Benita Valente
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Songs of Light and Love for Soprano and Chamber Orchestra: No. 3, A Light Left on - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
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Songs of Light and Love for Soprano and Chamber Orchestra: No. 4, The Fear of Angels - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
Benita Valente
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Songs of Light and Love for Soprano and Chamber Orchestra: No. 5, Evening Walk in France - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
Benita Valente
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Songs from Letters for Soprano and Orchestra: No. 1, So Like Your Father - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
Benita Valente
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Songs from Letters for Soprano and Orchestra: No. 2, He Never Misses - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
Benita Valente
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Songs from Letters for Soprano and Orchestra: No. 3, A Man Can Love Two Women - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
Benita Valente
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Songs from Letters for Soprano and Orchestra: No. 4, A Working Woman - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
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Songs from Letters for Soprano and Orchestra: No. 5, All I Have - Larsen: String Symphony - Songs of Light and Love -
Benita Valente
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