Deanna Durbin

From her first appearance on the silver screen in 1936 in Three Smart Girls (the film that would save Universal from bankruptcy), Deanna Durbin was America’s sweetheart. Among her legions of fans were Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland and Winston Churchill! Deanna retired in 1948 to pursue a normal life and the studio sought to find a replacement but her success was never duplicated. Her films remain a testament to the phenomenal voice she had and also showcase one of the earliest examples of classical crossover (before it was even a genre). Deanna’s repertoire spanned from arias, to operettas, folk songs, and standards and her strong technique was unwavering throughout. She is one of the earliest female singers we have recording of singing such male classics as “Nessun Dorma” and “Largo al factotum.”

Read Jennie Watter’s article “Runaway Soprano” in our Summer 2014

Natasha Barbieri, Editor

Editor

Creator of Classical Crossover Magazine. For Natasha music has always been closely tied to her faith. At age 18, Natasha made her opera debut playing the part of the mother in Menotti’s ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ with the Eastern Festival Opera. At 20, she was a winner of the 2011 Young Artist Competition at Andrews University. Natasha graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor’s of Music. Natasha has released a series of Holiday singles “A Place Called Home” (2020), “One Little Boy,” and “The Perfect Year” (2021). In 2021, she was nominated for the ‘Future Classic Women Awards’ show on Men’s & Women’s Radio Station. Natasha is the creator and editor of ‘Classical Crossover Magazine’ a venture that has allowed her to interview many of the top stars in the genre including Sarah Brightman, Celtic Woman, Mirusia, Paul Potts, and more. During the covid-19 pandemic, she created an online concert series for the magazine that has seen her perform in the same line-up as Alex Sharpe, Lucy Kay, Barbara Padilla, Classical Reflection, and more on the virtual stage. In 2022, Natasha was included on the charity album “Stars of Classical Crossover: Christmas” in benefit of the Wallace & Gromit Children’s Charity.