Grace Bumbry was the first black singer to perform at the Bayreuth Festival in 1961. The mezzo soprano died Sunday in Vienna at the age of 86, her son announced.
She suffered a stroke in October while on her way to New York to receive an award. Her funeral is scheduled to take place in St. Louis, Missouri, where she was born on January 4, 1937. The diva, who loved Lamborghini, jewelry and haute couture outfits, will perform on most prestigious stages.