Obituary
Retired N.O. Opera Singer Marietta Cosenza Dies At 73
Times Picayune 02-10-1996
Marietta Muhs Cosenza, a mezzo-soprano whose career with the New Orleans Opera spanned a quarter-century, died Friday at her Uptown home, apparently of a heart attack. She was 73.
A native of New Orleans, Mrs. Cosenza was the wife of Arthur G. Cosenza, longtime general director of the New Orleans Opera Association.
She made her New Orleans Opera debut in 1946 as Flora in Verdi's "La Traviata." She was selected personally by then-General Director Walter Herbert.
Of her debut, Times-Picayune critic Walter Jenkins wrote, "Marietta Muhs was selected wisely. . . . Vocally she shows much promise and undoubtedly will be heard from in the future."
And she was. Over the next 24 years, she appeared in 29 productions singing 20 roles, including Suzuki in "Madama Butterfly," Maddalena in "Rigoletto" and both Bersi and the Countess de Coigny in "Andrea Chenier," as well as roles in "Lakme," "Otello," "Thais," "Salome," "Il Trovatore" "Louise," "Der Fliegende Hollander," "La Gioconda," "The Medium" and "Romeo et Juliette." Her final role with the company was Marthe in a 1970 "Faust."
Her performances in Floyd's "Susannah" and Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" can be heard in a series of live recordings recently issued by the New Orleans Opera. Critic Frank Gagnard described her 1962 performance as Mrs. McLean in "Susannah" as "outstanding."
Mrs. Cosenza shared the stage with many acclaimed singers, including sopranos Dorothy Kirsten, Regina Resnik and Zinka Milanov; tenors Richard Tucker, Placido Domingo and Giuseppe DiStefano; baritone Leonard Warren; and bass- baritone Norman Treigle.
After graduating from Ursuline Academy, Miss Muhs enrolled in Loyola University's College of Music, where she studied with Elisabeth Wood. After studying at the Juilliard Opera Workshop in New York, she made her New York operatic debut in 1949 in "Carmen" and appeared with several regional companies.
While appearing in a New York production of Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia," she met baritone Arthur Cosenza. They were married in 1950.
The couple returned to New Orleans in 1954. In ensuing years, Mrs. Cosenza often appeared with her husband and in productions staged by him. Upon retiring as a singer in 1970, Mrs. Cosenza remained active with the company behind the scenes and as a member of the Women's Guild.
Opera Association President Joseph Young Jr. praised Mrs. Cosenza's talent and contributions to opera both on and off stage. "In her social relations with the hundreds of members of the various opera organizations, she was always congenial. We will think of her with affection," he said.
The New Orleans Opera Association dedicated its 1994-95 season to the Cosenzas, in celebration of their decades-long association with the company.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Cosenza is survived by two sons, Louis J. and Arthur W. Cosenza, both of New Orleans; a daughter, Maria Cosenza of Hammond; and four grandchildren.
A wake will be held Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. Visitation will continue at 10 a.m. Monday. A funeral will be held at noon at the funeral home. Burial will be in Metairie Cemetery.
A reception will be held at the Guild Home, 2504 Prytania St., after the funeral.
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