In her prime, Time magazine called Florence Kopleff "the world's greatest living alto."
From 1964 on she shared her singing talent and considerable musical acumen with Atlantans as a frequent guest soloist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, a voice coach for its choruses and an artist-in-residence and teacher at Georgia State University.
In 1960 her contralto solos in Bach's B-Minor Mass prompted a New York Times reviewer to call her "one of the great voices America has produced" and a New York Herald Tribune critic to write, "she is incapable of uttering a sound that is less than gorgeous."
Nick Jones of Atlanta, who wrote ASO program notes for 25 years, said Miss Kopleff's voice was "solid as a rock, burnished gold with just a suggestion of vibrato. She wasn't an operatic type, but a concert stage performer who stood stock-still and delivered a straightforward, heartfelt performance."
The current director of the ASO choruses, Norman Mackenzie, said Miss Kopleff possessed one of the few true contralto voices of the past century and, he added, was "one of the very few singers anywhere whose connection to text was so profound that she could move her listeners to tears."
She also was a concert headliner beyond Atlanta, performing in the rarefied company of conductors such as Fritz Reiner of Chicago, George Szell of Cleveland and Eugene Ormandy of Philadelphia.
Florence Kopleff, 88, of Atlanta died Tuesday at Hospice Atlanta of complications from diabetes. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sept. 16 at GSU's Florence Kopleff Recital Hall, named in her honor in 2004. Contributions in her memory may be sent to the Florence Kopleff Recital Hall Endowment Fund or the Florence Kopleff Vocal Scholarship, GSU Foundation, P.O. Box 3963, Atlanta GA 30302. Advantage Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Lilburn, is in charge of arrangements.
Miss Kopleff moved to Atlanta from her hometown of New York City at the invitation of then-ASO music director Robert Shaw. She had sung previously with the Robert Shaw Chorale, including its overseas tours and Grammy-winning recordings.
Former ASO board Chairman Neil Williams said the way Miss Kopleff worked with ASO choruses and GSU music students defined what a truly skilled teacher could do. As a performer and as a teacher, he said, she reached beyond her listeners' ears to their heads and hearts.
"Robert Shaw had a transformational effect on music making in Atlanta, and Florence contributed to that transformation," Mr. Williams said.
Mr. Mackenzie concurred, adding, "The sound of the present ASO chorus is due in no small part to Florence's diligent and committed work."
Miss Kopleff never married, but John Haberlen, former director of GSU's music school, said she was a mother figure to many students and colleagues at the school. She responded to fundraising endeavors at Georgia State, he said, "but it was the anonymous gifts she gave to needy students that underscored her love of humanity."
Surviving are a cousin, a nephew, a niece and two grandnephews.
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