Opera's Golden Age In Postcards

ZINA BROZIA 1880- French Soprano Studied with Elena Teodorini in Paris . Her Opera Comique debut was as Violetta “La Traviata” by Verdi on the 13 September 1905, after singing the roles of Gilda, Manon and Seso in the world première of Erlanger’s “Aphrodita”, She was a member of the Opéra Comique between 1905-1909. In 1907 she sang at Monte Carlo, making her debut as Elena in Mefistofele, and thereafter appearing as Elisabeth in Verdi’ s Don Carlos. She made guest appearances at the Monnaie, Brussels, and in 1908 at the Teatro Regio, Parma, as Butterfly and Manon. She débuted at the Palais Garnier on 27 March 1908 as Gilda in Rigoletto and also sang Juliet “Romeo and Juliet “ ), Marguerite “Faust”, Marguerite “ Mefistofele”, Thais “Thais” then, in 1909, in Ophelia “Hamlet”. In 1911 Russell brought her to Boston and from Boston she returned to France. In 1914 at Théâtre de Gaité à Paris she sang Salome in Massenet’s Herodiade and took part in Bianchini’s Radda , a one act piece after a drama by Gorki. Also she created Hirschmann's “La Danseuse de Tangra” at La Gaitie in Paris.

FRIEDA HEMPEL 1885-1955 German Soprano Studied at Leipzig and then Berlin with Nicklass-Kempner .Made early appearances at Brelau singing Violetta ,Queen of the Night and Rosina.Made her debut at Schwerin in 1905 and remained until 1907 singing Gilda , Leonora (Il Trovatore) .By request of Kaiser Wilhelm II she made her Berlin debut 1905 as Frau Fluth (in Nicolai's Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor). She sang at the Royal Court Opera, Berlin, from 1907 to 1912, where she was also admired as Lucia, Marguerite de Valois and Marie.At the Covent Garden, London in 1907 as Bastienne, in Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel, as Eva and Elsa and again as Frau Fluth . In 1912 she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York as Marguerite de Valois. She sang regularly in New York thereafter into the 1920s.After 1919 she sang mostly recitals and made her last appearance at New York Town Hall in 1951

FRIEDA HEMPEL 1885-1955 German Soprano Studied at Leipzig and then Berlin with Nicklass-Kempner .Made early appearances at Brelau singing Violetta ,Queen of the Night and Rosina.Made her debut at Schwerin in 1905 and remained until 1907 singing Gilda , Leonora (Il Trovatore) .By request of Kaiser Wilhelm II she made her Berlin debut 1905 as Frau Fluth (in Nicolai's Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor). She sang at the Royal Court Opera, Berlin, from 1907 to 1912, where she was also admired as Lucia, Marguerite de Valois and Marie.At the Covent Garden, London in 1907 as Bastienne, in Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel, as Eva and Elsa and again as Frau Fluth . In 1912 she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York as Marguerite de Valois. She sang regularly in New York thereafter into the 1920s.After 1919 she sang mostly recitals and made her last appearance at New York Town Hall in 1951

as Chrysis in "Aphrodite" by Erlanger CREATOR Opera Comique Paris 27/3/1906 Mary Garden (20 February 1874 – 3 January 1967) Scottish-American Soprano Studied with Sarah Robinson-Duff in Chicago In 1896 further studies in Paris, Trabadelo ,Lucien Fugere ,Jacques Bouhy ,Jules Chevalier, Mathilde Marchesi and Sybil Sanderson .Garden made her professional opera debut with the company on 10 April 1900 in the title role of Louise in "Louise" by Charpentier.In 1901 she starred in two world premieres, Marie in "La Marseillaise" by Lambert and Diane in "La file de Tabarin" by Pierne. That same year she sang the title role in Massenet's " Thais" at Aix-les-Bains, and sang both the title roles in Massenet's "Manon" and Messager's "Madam Chrysantheme" at the Opera de Monte Carlo of Sanderson. In 1902, Claude Debussy selected her to play the female lead at the Opéra-Comique debut of his "Pelleas et Melisande". She also created a sensation as "Salome" in the French version of Richard Strauss's opera of that name. At Covent Garden she sang Manon, Juliette in Gounod's 'Romeo et Juliette", and Marguerite in Gounod's "Faust" during the 1902 and 1903 seasons.. Her performances at the Opéra-Comique during this time included the title role in Massenet's "Griselidis" (1902), Violetta in Verdi's "La Traviatta" (1903), the title role in the world premiere of Xavier Leroux's "La reine Flamette" (1903), and the title role in Saint Seans's "Helene" (1905). In 1905 she sang at the Opera de Monte Carlo in the world premiere of Massenet's "Cherubin" a role which the composer wrote specifically for her. The following year she returned to the Opéra-Comique to sing Chrysis in the world premiere of Camille Erlanger's "Aphrodite".She made her American debut in the Manhattan Opera House on 25 November 1907 in the title role in "Thais, and in Massenet's 'Le jonglur de Notre Dame" (1908) and in the United States premiere of Pelléas et Mélisande. In 1908 she returned to Paris to join the roster at the Opera National Paris. She sang there for one season, notably portraying Ophelia in Thomas's "Hamlet" (1908) and the title part in Henry Fevrier's "Monna Vanna" (1909) among other roles. She also sang the role of Marguerite in Gounod's "Faust" (1909) in Brussells. Returned to New York in 1909 to perform the title role in Richard Strauss's "Salome" ,At Chicargo Grand Opera where she sang from 1910 to 1913 in such roles as Mélisande, Fanny in Massenet's "Sapho", Dulcinée in Massenet's "Don Quichotte", the Prince in Massenet's "Cendrillon", the title role inBixet's "Carmen", title role in Puccini's "Tosca". During this time she also sang in other American cities, notably appearing in the world premiere of Vicotr Herbert's 'Natoma" in Philadelphia on 25 February 1911 Garden retired from the opera stage in 1934, after making her last appearance as Katyusha in Franco Alfano's Risurrezione at the Opéra-Comique

as Manon in "Manon" By Massenet Mary Garden (20 February 1874 – 3 January 1967) Scottish-American Soprano Studied with Sarah Robinson-Duff in Chicago In 1896 further studies in Paris, Trabadelo ,Lucien Fugere ,Jacques Bouhy ,Jules Chevalier, Mathilde Marchesi and Sybil Sanderson .Garden made her professional opera debut with the company on 10 April 1900 in the title role of Louise in "Louise" by Charpentier.In 1901 she starred in two world premieres, Marie in "La Marseillaise" by Lambert and Diane in "La file de Tabarin" by Pierne. That same year she sang the title role in Massenet's " Thais" at Aix-les-Bains, and sang both the title roles in Massenet's "Manon" and Messager's "Madam Chrysantheme" at the Opera de Monte Carlo of Sanderson. In 1902, Claude Debussy selected her to play the female lead at the Opéra-Comique debut of his "Pelleas et Melisande". She also created a sensation as "Salome" in the French version of Richard Strauss's opera of that name. At Covent Garden she sang Manon, Juliette in Gounod's 'Romeo et Juliette", and Marguerite in Gounod's "Faust" during the 1902 and 1903 seasons.. Her performances at the Opéra-Comique during this time included the title role in Massenet's "Griselidis" (1902), Violetta in Verdi's "La Traviatta" (1903), the title role in the world premiere of Xavier Leroux's "La reine Flamette" (1903), and the title role in Saint Seans's "Helene" (1905). In 1905 she sang at the Opera de Monte Carlo in the world premiere of Massenet's "Cherubin" a role which the composer wrote specifically for her. The following year she returned to the Opéra-Comique to sing Chrysis in the world premiere of Camille Erlanger's "Aphrodite".She made her American debut in the Manhattan Opera House on 25 November 1907 in the title role in "Thais, and in Massenet's 'Le jonglur de Notre Dame" (1908) and in the United States premiere of Pelléas et Mélisande. In 1908 she returned to Paris to join the roster at the Opera National Paris. She sang there for one season, notably portraying Ophelia in Thomas's "Hamlet" (1908) and the title part in Henry Fevrier's "Monna Vanna" (1909) among other roles. She also sang the role of Marguerite in Gounod's "Faust" (1909) in Brussells. Returned to New York in 1909 to perform the title role in Richard Strauss's "Salome" ,At Chicargo Grand Opera where she sang from 1910 to 1913 in such roles as Mélisande, Fanny in Massenet's "Sapho", Dulcinée in Massenet's "Don Quichotte", the Prince in Massenet's "Cendrillon", the title role inBixet's "Carmen", title role in Puccini's "Tosca". During this time she also sang in other American cities, notably appearing in the world premiere of Vicotr Herbert's 'Natoma" in Philadelphia on 25 February 1911 Garden retired from the opera stage in 1934, after making her last appearance as Katyusha in Franco Alfano's Risurrezione at the Opéra-Comique

as Mignon "Mignon" Massenet AINO ACKTE (originally Achte) 23 April 1876 – 8 August 1944) Finnish soprano. studied singing under her mother'( mezzo-soprano Emmy Achté (née Strömer) until 1894 when she entered the Paris Conservatory, studying under Edmond Duvernoy and Alfred Girodet. Her debut at the Paris Grand Opera was in 1897 as Margurite in "Faust" by Gounod .In 1904 she was engaged by the New York Metropolitan Opera where she remained until 1906 . In 1911, Ackté, Oskar Merikanto, and Edvard Fazer founded the Kotimainen Ooppera (renamed in 1914 Finnish Opera)and was to act as its director in 1938-39. After parting ways with the National Opera, Ackté organized an international Savonlinna Opera Festival beginning on 3 July 1912;[9] it was held 1912-14, 1916 and 1930.1906. She created the title role of Richard Strauss's " Salome" at its local premieres in Leipzig (1907) and London (1910).She ended her international travels in 1914 and returned to Finland, where she gave her farewell performance in 1920. Her final public performances took place at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in 1930.

Anna Bahr-Mildenburg 1872-1947 Austrian Soprano Studied with Papier-Paimgartner , Debut 1895 in Hambure as Brunhilde in "Die Walkure" by Wagner , She was the reigning dramatic Soprano at Vienna and made regular appearances at Bayreuth. Covent Garden debut 1906 as Isolde

as Kundry in "Parsifal" by Wagner Anna Bahr-Mildenburg 1872-1947 Austrian Soprano Studied with Papier-Paimgartner , Debut 1895 in Hambure as Brunhilde in "Die Walkure" by Wagner , She was the reigning dramatic Soprano at Vienna and made regular appearances at Bayreuth. Covent Garden debut 1906 as Isolde

as Linda "Linda Di Chamounix" by Donizetti Maria Barrentos 1883-1946 Spanish Soprano Studiied at Barcelona Conservatory under Francesco Bonet.Debut 1899 at Teatro Novedades as Inez in "La Africane" , Sang at the Constanzi Rome.Lirico milan . 1903 appeared at Covent Garden . 1904 at La Scala Milan' Her roles included Lakme , Dinorah , Gilda, Lucia, Amina And Elvira

Maria Barrentos 1883-1946 Spanish Soprano Studiied at Barcelona Conservatory under Francesco Bonet.Debut 1899 at Teatro Novedades as Inez in "La Africane" , Sang at the Constanzi Rome.Lirico milan . 1903 appeared at Covent Garden . 1904 at La Scala Milan' Her roles included Lakme , Dinorah , Gilda, Lucia, Amina And Elvira

Arnold Melchtal in " William Tell" by Rossini Augustarello Affre 858-1931 French Tenor Affre was trained at the Conservatoire de Toulouse and the Conservatoire de Paris. He studied singing with Edmond Duvernoy and Pierre Gailhard.[1] After singing in theatres in the French provinces, he made his debut in Paris at the Opéra in 1890 as Edgardo in Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor opposite Nellie Melba in the title role, who also made her debut.[2] He remained a leading tenor at that opera house for the next 20 years, portraying such roles as Arnold Melchtal in William Tell, Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, Eléazar in La Juive, Fernand in La favorite, Jean de Leyde in Le prophète, Radames in Aida, Raoul de Nangis in Les Huguenots, Renaud in Gluck's Armide, Vasco da Gama in L'Africaine, and the title roles in Lohengrin and Sigurd.[1] He created the role of the Touranien prisoner in the world premiere of Jules Massenet's Le mage in 1891. Outside of Paris, Affre appeared as a guest artist at the Opéra de Marseille, Opéra National de Lyon, and the Théâtre du Grand Cercle in Aix-les-Bains. In 1900 he performed at La Monnaie in Brussels. In 1909 he appeared at the Royal Opera House in London as Samson in Samson et Dalila and in the title role of Gounod's Faust.

as Carmen "Carmen" Bizet Vera Schwarz 1888-1946 German Soprano Studied with Forsten in Vienna.Stage debut in 1908 in operetta at Vienna . Took further study and secured an engagement with the Hamburg opera . made guest appearances at Berlin nad in 1921 made her Vieena State opera Debut as Tosca.Her roles included Pamina, Countess various Wagner role from Eva to Sieglinde , Verdi's Aida , Elvira and Leonora , Stauss's Oktavian , Ariadne and .Helena.She sang Anita in the premiere of "Jonny Speilt Auf" by Krenek

as Belmont & Constance "L’ENLÈVEMENT AU SÉRAIL By Mozart Augustarello Affre 1858-1931 French Tenor Affre was trained at the Conservatoire de Toulouse and the Conservatoire de Paris. He studied singing with Edmond Duvernoy and Pierre Gailhard.[1] After singing in theatres in the French provinces, he made his debut in Paris at the Opéra in 1890 as Edgardo in Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor opposite Nellie Melba in the title role, who also made her debut.[2] He remained a leading tenor at that opera house for the next 20 years, portraying such roles as Arnold Melchtal in William Tell, Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, Eléazar in La Juive, Fernand in La favorite, Jean de Leyde in Le prophète, Radames in Aida, Raoul de Nangis in Les Huguenots, Renaud in Gluck's Armide, Vasco da Gama in L'Africaine, and the title roles in Lohengrin and Sigurd.[1] He created the role of the Touranien prisoner in the world premiere of Jules Massenet's Le mage in 1891. Outside of Paris, Affre appeared as a guest artist at the Opéra de Marseille, Opéra National de Lyon, and the Théâtre du Grand Cercle in Aix-les-Bains. In 1900 he performed at La Monnaie in Brussels. In 1909 he appeared at the Royal Opera House in London as Samson in Samson et Dalila and in the title role of Gounod's Faust. Julia Lindsay 1878 French Soprano Débute Create d L’ENLÈVEMENT AU SÉRAIL (Constance) le 01 décembre 1903. Sang ROMÉO ET JULIETTE (Juliette) , FAUST (Marguerite) 1904 ; ARMIDE (Sidonie) ,TANNHÄUSER (Elisabeth)1905 ; LES MAITRES CHANTEURS DE NUREMBERG (Eva) LOHENGRIN (Elsa) e1906.

as Countess In "Marriage of Figaro' by Mozart Zinaida Jurjevskaja 1896-1925 Russian Soprano Came to Berlin with her family after russian revolution and began her vocal studies . in 1922 she sang at the Staatsoper in "der goldene Hahn" by Rimsky-Korsakov . She was a principal there until her death.Her roles included Jenufa , which she created in the local premiere in 1924 , Sophia "De Rosenkavalier" . She had great success in Paris and sang in Holland and Switzerland.

as Amneris "Aida" by Verdi Margarete Arndt-Ober 1885-1971 German Soprano Studied singing in Berlin with Benno Stolzenberg and Arthur Arndt, the latter of whom she eventually married in 1910. Debut as Azucena in Giuseppe Verdi's Il trovatore at the Opern- und Schauspielhaus Frankfurt in 1906. After a short stint at the opera in Stettin, she became a principal singer with the Berlin State Opera in 1907, remaining with that company for over 35 years. In 1908 she had her first major success in Berlin singing Amneris in Verdi's Aida That same year she portrayed the title role in the German premiere of Jules Massenet's Thérèse. In April 1910 she sang in the world premiere of Arthur Nevin's Poia. In 1913 she portrayed Eboli in the Berlin premiere of Verdi's Don Carlos.

as Ortrud "Lohengrin" by Wagner Margarete Arndt-Ober 1885-1971 German Soprano Studied singing in Berlin with Benno Stolzenberg and Arthur Arndt, the latter of whom she eventually married in 1910. Debut as Azucena in Giuseppe Verdi's Il trovatore at the Opern- und Schauspielhaus Frankfurt in 1906. After a short stint at the opera in Stettin, she became a principal singer with the Berlin State Opera in 1907, remaining with that company for over 35 years. In 1908 she had her first major success in Berlin singing Amneris in Verdi's Aida That same year she portrayed the title role in the German premiere of Jules Massenet's Thérèse. In April 1910 she sang in the world premiere of Arthur Nevin's Poia. In 1913 she portrayed Eboli in the Berlin premiere of Verdi's Don Carlos.

as Wotan "Die Walküre" Walter Soomer 1878-1955 German Bass Studied with Stoeckert and Anna Uhlig in Berlin.Debut in 1902 at the Stadttheater in Colmar. After the First World War, he started to appear as bass, again with success, as an interpreter of the part in R. Wagner's operas.

as Hans Sachs" Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg " by Wagner Walter Soomer 1878-1955 German Bass Studied with Stoeckert and Anna Uhlig in Berlin.Debut in 1902 at the Stadttheater in Colmar. After the First World War, he started to appear as bass, again with success, as an interpreter of the part in R. Wagner's operas.