Lili Chookasian

Lili Chookasian is an American contralto of the mid-20th century. Ms. Chookasian began her career as an oratorio singer and only began singing opera in her late thirties, after having studied with Rosa Ponselle. Ms. Chookasian became the leading contralto of her day, singing under Solti, Bernstein, Karajan, Maazel, and many other great conductors.

She made her debut at the Met in 1962 as La Cieca in Gioconda. Her roles included Geneviève, Mistress Quickly, Ulrica, Maddalena, Azucena, Amneris, Auntie (Peter Grimes) and La Frugola, the Princess and Zita (Il trittico). Ms. Chookasian retired from the stage in the 80s and now teaches at the Yale School of Music.