The distinguished
American soprano Benita Valente is one of this era's most cherished musical
artists. She has been sought as an orchestra soloist by every great conductor
of the last two decades and has appeared with every major symphony in the
United States, Canada and Europe. The operatic stage has also featured
prominently in Miss Valente's career beginning with her Metropolitan Opera
debut as Pamina in Die Zauberflöte. Miss Valente has been recorded by no less
than seventeen recording companies. As a participant in the prestigious
Marlboro Festival her performances and recordings with the legendary pianist
Rudolf Serkin won great acclaim. She received a Grammy Award for her Columbia
recording of Schoenberg's Quartet No. 2 and a Grammy nomination for her SONY
Classical recording of Haydn's Seven Last Words of Christ, both performed with
The Juilliard String Quartet.