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Yma Sumac

Yma Sumac

Born: 1923-09-10 • Ichocan, Cajamarca, Peru

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).

Filmography
Yma Sumac: The Inca Castafiore poster
Yma Sumac: The Inca Castafiore
1993
Fol-de-Rol poster
Fol-de-Rol
1972 • Various Characters
Las canciones unidas poster
Las canciones unidas
1960
Music of Always poster
Music of Always
1958
Omar Khayyam poster
Omar Khayyam
1957 • Karina
Secret of the Incas poster
Secret of the Incas
1954 • Kori-Tica