OperaMania's photos

ADELINA PATTI (19 February 1843 – 27 September 1919) Soprano Her voice was noticed very early and she nade her first tour in America at the age of seven years and was a huge success. Studied singing in New York under the direction of Maurice Strakosch, her brother-in-law, and in 1859 she sang in New York in Lucia di Lammermoor. At Covent Garden theatre in London in 1861 where she sang la Sonnambula, her reputation was strengthened and in 1862 she was singing in Paris at the Théâtre Italien, where she soon became the star. She remained at Paris until 1870, being heard in London during the summer season. In Paris she sang the Italian Repertory, in London the french Repertory. After a long stay in America and London, Patti returned several times to Paris at the Opera (debut in 1874) and the Théâtre de la Gaîté. Then she resumed travels and successfully created, in London, in 1882, the Charles Lenepveu's Velléda. She also created Dolores of André Pollonais in Nice on February 22, 1897. She triumphed especially in a vast Italian repertoire that suited to her beautiful light soprano voice. His career lasted for fifty-six years.

as Mephistopheles in “Faust” by Gounod Marius Chambon (Claude Etienne Marius Chambon) 1864-1945 French Bass Studied singing at the conservatoire of Lyon, where he won the first price in 1889. Debut 1890 at the Opera House in Marseille as Marcel in “ Les Huguenots'' by Meyerbeer'. He was engaged by the Grand Opéra in Paris in 1892, and sang the role of Marcel as his debut role. He remained at the Paris Opera for the rest of his career. He sang there in the Théâtre de l'Opéra (Palais Garnier) première’s of the opera ''Samson et Dalila'' of Saint-Saëns as Vieillard in 1892 (15 years after the premiere in Weimar in 1877 ) and in 1899 in ''La prise de Troie'' by Berlioz in the role of Hector .He also appeared a s a guest at the famous opera houses in the French province. Roles included Mephistopheles in “Faust” by Gounod , Hunding in “Die Walkure” by Wagner ,Bertram in “Robert le Diable” by Meyerbeer , Friar Laurent in “Romeo & Juliette” by Gounod , Ramfis in “Aida” by Verdi , Balthazar in “La Favorite” by Donizetti , Zacharie in “ Le Phrophete” by Meyerbeer , Don Pedro in “l’Africane” by Meyerbeer , Duke D’Alba in “Patrie” by Paladilhe and Pogner in “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” by Wagner.

Pauline Donalda (Pauline Lightstone) 1882-1970 Canadian Soprano Studied with Clara Lichtenstein at the Royal Victoria College Montreal. In 1902 she went to Paris , and studied voice with Edmond Duvernoy, Debut in Nice in 1904 , singing Manon in “Manon” by Massenet . In Nice she sang Jenny in the French premiere of “ Chatterton” by Leoncavallo. London debut 1905 at Covent Garden, singing Micaëla In “Carmen” by Bizet . In 1905 she sang Ah-Joe in the premiere of “L'Oracolo “ by Franco Leoni, In 1919 she was the first London Concepción in the English premiere of Ravel's “L'Heure espagnole” In 1905 she sang at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. Debut in Canada, singing with her first husband baritone (later Tenor) Paul Seveilhac at a recital in the Montreal Arena. Hammerstein's Manhattan Opera New York 1906 as Marguerite in” Faust” by Gounod. 1907 made her debut at the Opéra-Comique in Paris as Manon in “ Manon” by Massenet. She made concert tours that took her through Central Europe, and to Russia in 1910. After a short visit to Canada in 1910, she returned to Covent Garden and again in 1912-1913. Nice 1914, and then to Canada, pursuing her career in concerts . 1915 at New York and Boston. 1916 sang Nedda in I Pagliacci at the Princess Theatre (Montreal). She returned to Paris in 1917. She sang again in Covent Garden when it reopened in 1919, but this was her last season in this theatre. She began teaching, opening a studio in Paris in 1922. Returning to Montreal in 1937 and opening a studio there. She founded the Opera Guild in 1942 and directed +it until 1969,Rolesf Marguerite in “Faust “ By Gounod, Micaëla In “Carmen” by Bizet, Mimi.in “La Boheme” by Puccini , Nedda in “I Pagliacci” by Leoncavallo. Page in Les Huguenots” “Meybeer ,Violeta “La Traviatta” by Verdi , Elsa in “Lohengrin” and Eva in “Die Meistersinger” both by Wagner

as Marguerite in "Faust" by Gounod Lalla Miranda 1874-1944 Australian Soprano After studies in London and Paris, she made her professional opera debut in The Hague in 1898. She then appeared in numerous operas in Amsterdam in successive years. In 1899 she was a resident artist at La Monnaie. She made several appearances at the Palais Garnier in Paris and at theatres in the French provences during the first two decades of the 20th century. In 1900-1901 and from 1907-1911 she was committed the Royal Opera House on London. In 1910 she was committed to both the Manhattan Opera Company and the Philadelphia Opera Company. She notably opened the 1910 season at the Manhattan Opera House in the title role of Donizetti's “Lucia di Lammermoor”, .In New York and Philadelphia she also sang Gilda in “Rigoletto”, Olympia in “The Tales of Hoffmann”, and the title role in “Lakmé”. After 1918 she was primarily active with the Carl Rosa Opera Company. She retired in the early 1920s.

Hans Duhan 1890-1971 Austrian Baritone Studied in Vienna with Gottinger and Emil Steger, I n April 1914 he made his debut as Amonasro in “ Aida” by Verdi at the Vienna Court Opera. Remained at Vienna Court opera until 1940, as a baritone, later as a director and occasionally as a conductor. He sang in three major premieres : In 1916, he sang the role of the music teacher and Harlequin in the new version of “Ariadne auf Naxos “ by Hugo von Hofmannsthal and Richard Strauss. He accompanied the Vienna State Opera on numerous tours to London, Paris, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Rome, Budapest in the 1920’s and 1930’s he was a popular figure at the Salzburg Music Festival . From 1932-1955 he worked as a teacher of the opera class at the Vienna Academy of Music.Roles included Don Giovanni, as well as the Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro. Pasha Selim in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca, Don Fernando in Beethoven's Fidelio and Frank in Fledermaus by Johann Strauss

Paul Dufault (Paul Du Faut) 1872-1930 Canadian Tenor Studied at the Séminaire de Nicolet and studied music in Montreal with a Mr Birtz, later in Boston with a Mr Dobson, then in Worcester, Massachusetts, with a Mrs Petersen. He is also known to have studied with Hector Dupeyron of the Paris Opera and to have been active professionally by 1897. He sang with the Société symphonique de Québec (Quebec Symphony Orchestra) in 1903, when the program mentioned that he had been living in New York 'for many years,' making several concert and church appearances there. Barring the occasional oratorio appearance, his career was confined exclusively to the concert platform. He toured the world, including Australia , China, and Japan. During this period also, he toured Quebec nearly every year, concentrating on the smaller town. His programs, comprising exclusively French classical arias and French and English songs - notably by Botrel, Gounod, Goublier, and Tosti -.

as Mime in "Siegfried" by Wagner Julius Lieban 1857-1940 Austrian-German Tenor He attended the Conservatory of the Society of Friends of Music in Vienna, studied singing with Josef Gänsbacher . He sang at the Municipal Theatre in Leipzig and at the Komische Oper in Vienna as Buffo. In 1881 he participated in the Wagner tour of Angelo Neumann and sang later at the Bayreuth Festival. From 1883 he worked as a Tenor buffo as a member of the Court Opera in Berlin; he also sang at the newly founded German Opera House in Charlottenburg. In 1908 he was appointed Kammersänger . In 1933 he sang the role of Mime at the State Opera when over 70. Made guest performances in many major opera houses throughout Europe. He worked in Berlin as a singing teacher.

as Marguerite in "Faust" by Gounod Lillian Blauvelt 1873-1947 American Soprano She was a graduate of the National Conservatory of Music and went to study with Jacques Bouhy in Paris.Debut as Mirielle in “Mirielle” by Gounod at the Monnaie Brussells 1898 .In 1905 she sang the soprano soloist part in “Requeim” by Verdi in Rome, Sang at Covent Garden London for one season in 1903,Sang in concert in England and was a regular at The Proms until WW1.She toured the US.She also sang in operetta .

as Waltraute in "Die Walkyrie" by Wagner Vera Nimidoff. Russian. Mezzo-soprano. Studied with Edward Colonne ,Debut at the Paris Opera March 10, 1900 as Stefano in "Romeo and Juliet" by Gounod She sang Siebel in "Faust" by Gounod and Waltraute in "Die Walkyrie" by Wagner Created the role of Cleanthis in "Astarte" by Leroux at the Palais Garnier in 1901

Julia Culp 1880-1970 Dutch Mezzo She studied at the Conservatory Amsterdam with Cornélie van Zanten. Completing her studies in 1900, She was discovered by German-American conductor Wilhelm Berger, who took her to Berlin to perform at the concert hall Saal Bechstein in 1901. As early as 1902 she performed for Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and in 1903 she was invited to sing at the German Imperial Court for Empress Augusta Victoria. In 1911 Before long, she was performing all over Europe and America, She sang the mezzo-soprano part in the premiere performance of Frederick Delius's Songs of Sunset in London . In 1913 she made her American debut at Carnegie Hall in New York. In the United States, she soon became known as the "Dutch Nightingale".

as Euridice in ‘’Orfeo ed Euridice’’ by Gluck Catherine Mastio 1874-???? French Soprano Debut Opera Comique 1899 as Hero in “Beaucoup de bruit pour rien” by Puget a Creator role.Sang in the Opera Comique premier of “Hansel & Gretel” by Humperdinck as the Sandman in 1900.Created Florence in the Premiere of “La Petite Maison” by Chaumet in 1903.She debuted at the Palais Garnier Paris in 1908 as Elsa in “Lohengrin” by Wagner. Roles included Violetta in “La Traviatta” by Verdi , Micaela in “Carmen” by Bizet ,Louise in “Louise” by Carpentier ,Philine in “Mignon” by Thomas ,Mireille in “ Mireille” by Gounod

as ’Manon’’ by Massenet Catherine Mastio 1874-???? French Soprano Debut Opera Comique 1899 as Hero in “Beaucoup de bruit pour rien” by Puget a Creator role.Sang in the Opera Comique premier of “Hansel & Gretel” by Humperdinck as the Sandman in 1900.Created Florence in the Premiere of “La Petite Maison” by Chaumet in 1903.She debuted at the Palais Garnier Paris in 1908 as Elsa in “Lohengrin” by Wagner. Roles included Violetta in “La Traviatta” by Verdi , Micaela in “Carmen” by Bizet ,Louise in “Louise” by Carpentier ,Philine in “Mignon” by Thomas ,Mireille in “ Mireille” by Gounod

as Philine in “Mignon” by Thomas , Catherine Mastio 1874-???? French Soprano Debut Opera Comique 1899 as Hero in “Beaucoup de bruit pour rien” by Puget a Creator role.Sang in the Opera Comique premier of “Hansel & Gretel” by Humperdinck as the Sandman in 1900.Created Florence in the Premiere of “La Petite Maison” by Chaumet in 1903.She debuted at the Palais Garnier Paris in 1908 as Elsa in “Lohengrin” by Wagner. Roles included Violetta in “La Traviatta” by Verdi , Micaela in “Carmen” by Bizet ,Louise in “Louise” by Carpentier ,Philine in “Mignon” by Thomas ,Mireille in “ Mireille” by Gounod

As Orpheus in “Orpheus und Euridice” by Gluck , Irma Terväni ( Irma Ackté) 1887-1936 Finnish Contralto/Mezzo She was the daughter of Emmy Ackté and her sister was soprano Aino Ackté, Studied with her mother from 1905-07 at the conservatory in Paris. She was hired in 1908 at hovoperan in Dresden, where she performed the roles of Carmen in “Carmen” by Bizet , Orpheus “Orpheus und Euridice” by Gluck , Delilah in "Samson and Delilah" by Saint- Seans.Gave concerts in Stockholm 1909

as Faust & Marguerite in "Faust by Gounod GIOVANNI MARIO (Giovanni Matteo, marquis of CANDIA ) 17 October 1810 – 11 December 1883). -Italian tenor Husband Giulia Grisi. He debuted under the name of Mario on 02 December 1838 in ROBERT LE DIABLE de Meyerbeer (Robert). He sang LE COMTE ORY Rossini. THE Draper of Halévy; THE HUGUENOTS (Raoul, 1862). "This famous tenor of the Italians, and a moment of the Opera, was the son of the Italian general marquis of Candia." When starting at the Opera that he took the name of Mario, he was both exemplified since. After a long time living with the famous singer Giulia Grisi, who died in 1869, he eventually married her, when she became the widow of her first husband. They had six children . ADELINA PATTI (19 February 1843 – 27 September 1919) Soprano Her voice was noticed very early and she made her first tour in America at the age of seven years and was a huge success. Studied singing in New York under the direction of Maurice Strakosch, her brother-in-law, and in 1859 she sang in New York in "Lucia di Lammermoor". At Covent Garden theatre in London in 1861 where she sang "la Sonnambula", her reputation was strengthened and in 1862 she was singing in Paris at the Théâtre Italien, where she soon became the star. She remained at Paris until 1870, being heard in London during the summer season. In Paris she sang the Italian Repertory, in London the french Repertory. After a long stay in America and London, Patti returned several times to Paris at the Opera (debut in 1874) and the Théâtre de la Gaîté. Then she resumed travels and successfully created, in London, in 1882, the Charles Lenepveu's Velléda. She also created Dolores of André Pollonais in Nice on February 22, 1897. She triumphed especially in a vast Italian repertoire that suited to her beautiful light soprano voice. His career lasted for fifty-six years.

EMMA ALBANI (1 November 1847 – 3 April 1930) Canadian soprano (Marie Louise Cecilia Emma Lajeunesse.) Vocal studies in Europe, and she became a student of Gilbert Louis Duprez in Paris, then by Francesco Lamperti in Milan. Debut in 1870 at the Opera House of Messina as Amina in 'La Sonnambula'. Covent Garden début 1872. First Covent Garden Senta (Der fliegende Holländer), 1877. NY Met début 1891; first Desdemona at NY Met 1894. Sang Isolde, Covent Garden 1896, retiring from stage a month later, but continuing to sing in oratorio. Retired to teach in 1911. DBE 1925.

Schneider as Tata-Lili in "La Veuve des Malabar" by Herve CREATOR ,Theatere des Varieties ,Paris 26/4/1873 HORTENSE CATHERINE SCHNEIDER, La Snédèr, (30 April 1833 – 6 May 1920) was a French soprano, one of the greatest operetta stars of the 19th century, particularly associated with the works of composer Jacques Offenbach. ]Born in Bordeaux, where she studied with Schaffner, she made her debut in Agen in 1853, as Inés in La favorite. She came to Paris and was turned down by the director of the Théâtre des Variétés but was noticed by Jacques Offenbach who invited her to the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens, where she made her debut in 1855 in Le violoneux. She enjoyed immediate success and created for Offenbach the role of Boulotte in Barbe-bleue and the title roles in La belle Hélène, La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein and La Périchole, all resounding triumphs. She also appeared in London and Saint Petersburg, to great acclaim. An accomplished singer and actress, she was much admired for her brio and verve on stage, was the toast of the Second Empire and a favourite of royal visitors to Paris. La Snédèr was reputedly one of King Edward VII's mistresses (because of the favours which she liberally granted to the members of the nobility, she was known as Le Passage des Princes.). She retired in 1878, after her marriage, and died in Paris over forty years later at age 87.

MILY MEYER (Émilie Mily Meyer) (1852-1927) French Soprano Her professional début was at the Eldorado café-concert; she then went to the Théâtre de la Renaissance and appeared as the young duchess in the premiere of Le petit duc on 25 January 1878. Creations in La Camargo (1878),[2] Petite Mademoiselle (1879) and Belle-Lurette (1880) swiftly followed also appeared at the Théâtre des Nouveautés as Kate in the French premiere of Rip and at the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens as Bianca in the first run of La Béarnaise in 1885. Also at Théâtre des Variétés was La Princesse de Trébizonde, while at the Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques she was in the French premiere of Millöcker's La Demoiselle de Belleville (Die Jungfrau von Belleville). Among many other operettas in which she sang were Roi de Carreau (1885) and Babolin (1884) at the Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques (November 1884); La vie mondaine (1885) at the Théâtre des Nouveautés, and at the Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens, La Béarnaise (1885), as Benjamine in Joséphine (1886), Gamine de Paris (1887), Le Retour d'Ulysse (1889), Le mari de la reine (1889), Cendrillonnette (1890) and revivals of Les petits mousquetaires and La Princesse de Trébizonde. Back at the Renaissance, she created La gardeuse d'oies (1888) and La petite Poucette (1891); followed by La Demoiselle du Téléphone (1891) at the Nouveautés, Fleur de Vertu (1894) at the Bouffes, and L'Élève du Conservatoire (1894) at the Théâtre des Menus-Plaisirs.