Frances Davis Alda (born Fanny Jane Davis; 31 May 1879 – 18 September 1952) was a New Zealand-born, Australian-raised operatic lyric soprano. She achieved fame during the first three decades of the 20th century due to her outstanding singing voice, fine technique and colourful personality, as well as her frequent onstage partnerships at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, with Enrico Caruso.[1]
Alda was born Fanny Jane Davis in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 31 May 1879 to David Davis and Leonore Simonsen.[n 1]
Leonore, a promising singer from a musical family, in September 1880 divorced David and resumed her singing career. Fanny spent her early years traveling with her mother on her operatic tours. After false starts in Australasia, she took Fanny and her younger brother to San Francisco, California in 1883. Leonore Davis remarried but died of peritonitis in San Francisco on 29 December 1884, shortly after remarrying, to Herman Adler. After her mother's death, Alda was sent to live with her maternal grandparents, Martin and Fanny Simonsen, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[2]
She sang in productions of Gilbert and Sullivan in Melbourne before leaving Australia for Europe at the age of 22 in order to undertake additional study and pursue an international singing career like her future soprano rival Nellie Melba. After receiving lessons in Paris from the renowned teacher Mathilde Marchesi, who gave her her stage name, Alda made her debut at the Opéra-Comique in 1904 in Jules Massenet's Manon. She appeared at the Royal Opera HouseCovent Garden in 1906, and at La Scala, Milan, during the 1906-08 seasons.
Alda toured Australia and New Zealand in 1927, saying in an interview she loathed the former.[4] She and Gatti-Casazza separated the following year and then divorced. In 1929, she left the Met but continued to give concerts, make radio broadcasts and appear in vaudeville. Alda's 1937 autobiography was titled Men, Women, & Tenors.
She had an affluent retirement in Long Island, and spent much time travelling . She died of a stroke on 18 September 1952 in Venice, Italy, aged 73.[1]
^Alda amended her birth year to 1883 to make herself more appealing to operatic managers. This incorrect year is often recorded as her actual year of birth.
Referencesedit
^ ab"Frances Alda Dies. Former Met Star. 21 Years Before Retiring in 1929. Sang 40 Roles. A Gatti-Casazza Protege. Came to U.S. With Milanese Impresario in 1908. Stricken by Brain Hemorrhage". The New York Times. 19 September 1952.
^Charlotte Macdonald (1992). The book of New Zealand women (First ed.). Wellington, NZ: Williams. ISBN0-908912-04-8.
frances, alda, frances, davis, alda, born, fanny, jane, davis, 1879, september, 1952, zealand, born, australian, raised, operatic, lyric, soprano, achieved, fame, during, first, three, decades, 20th, century, outstanding, singing, voice, fine, technique, colou. Frances Davis Alda born Fanny Jane Davis 31 May 1879 18 September 1952 was a New Zealand born Australian raised operatic lyric soprano She achieved fame during the first three decades of the 20th century due to her outstanding singing voice fine technique and colourful personality as well as her frequent onstage partnerships at the Metropolitan Opera New York with Enrico Caruso 1 Frances AldaAlda circa 1920BornFanny Jane Davis 1879 05 31 May 31 1879Christchurch New ZealandDiedSeptember 18 1952 1952 09 18 aged 73 Venice ItalySpousesGiulio Gatti Casazza m 1910 div 1928 wbr Miner Raymond VirDen m 1941 wbr Frances Alda relaxing away from the stage 1909 Contents 1 Career 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksCareer editAlda was born Fanny Jane Davis in Christchurch New Zealand on 31 May 1879 to David Davis and Leonore Simonsen n 1 Leonore a promising singer from a musical family in September 1880 divorced David and resumed her singing career Fanny spent her early years traveling with her mother on her operatic tours After false starts in Australasia she took Fanny and her younger brother to San Francisco California in 1883 Leonore Davis remarried but died of peritonitis in San Francisco on 29 December 1884 shortly after remarrying to Herman Adler After her mother s death Alda was sent to live with her maternal grandparents Martin and Fanny Simonsen in Melbourne Victoria Australia 2 nbsp 1920 newspaper advertisement for an Alda concert at the Murat Theater in Indianapolis USA She sang in productions of Gilbert and Sullivan in Melbourne before leaving Australia for Europe at the age of 22 in order to undertake additional study and pursue an international singing career like her future soprano rival Nellie Melba After receiving lessons in Paris from the renowned teacher Mathilde Marchesi who gave her her stage name Alda made her debut at the Opera Comique in 1904 in Jules Massenet s Manon She appeared at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in 1906 and at La Scala Milan during the 1906 08 seasons In 1908 the former La Scala impresario Giulio Gatti Casazza became director of the Metropolitan Opera On 7 December 1908 Alda made her debut there On 4 April 1910 Alda and Gatti Casazza married According to American Art News New York 19 March 1910 Adolfo Muller Ury was painting Alda just before her marriage It was in New York that Alda furthered her career appearing to acclaim in such famous operas as Martha Manon Lescaut Otello Faust Mefistofele and La boheme She began recording for the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1908 and several of her records became best sellers 3 She created the title roles in Victor Herbert s Madeleine and Henry Hadley s Cleopatra s Night as well as Roxane in Walter Damrosch s Cyrano She also sang regularly with Enrico Caruso Alda toured Australia and New Zealand in 1927 saying in an interview she loathed the former 4 She and Gatti Casazza separated the following year and then divorced In 1929 she left the Met but continued to give concerts make radio broadcasts and appear in vaudeville Alda s 1937 autobiography was titled Men Women amp Tenors On 14 April 1941 in Charleston South Carolina she married Manhattan advertising executive Ray Vir Den he was a decade younger than she 5 She had an affluent retirement in Long Island and spent much time travelling She died of a stroke on 18 September 1952 in Venice Italy aged 73 1 nbsp O mio babbino caro source source O mio babbino caro from Giacomo Puccini s Gianni Schicchi sung by Frances Alda in 1919 Problems playing this file See media help nbsp Ancora un passo source source A 1913 recording of Ancora un passo from Giacomo Puccini s Madama Butterfly Problems playing this file See media help She is buried in All Saints Episcopal Church Cemetery in Great Neck Long Island 6 Notes edit Alda amended her birth year to 1883 to make herself more appealing to operatic managers This incorrect year is often recorded as her actual year of birth References edit a b Frances Alda Dies Former Met Star 21 Years Before Retiring in 1929 Sang 40 Roles A Gatti Casazza Protege Came to U S With Milanese Impresario in 1908 Stricken by Brain Hemorrhage The New York Times 19 September 1952 Charlotte Macdonald 1992 The book of New Zealand women First ed Wellington NZ Williams ISBN 0 908912 04 8 Whitburn Joel 1986 Pop Memories 1890 1954 Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research Inc p 21 ISBN 0 89820 083 0 I LOATHE AUSTRALIA Cairns Post Qld 1909 1954 14 November 1927 p 5 Retrieved 8 September 2020 Mme Frances Alda Wed To Ray Vir Den Former Opera Singer Bride Of New York Advertising Man The New York Times 15 April 1941 Resting Places The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons by Scott WilsonExternal links edit nbsp Media related to Frances Alda at Wikimedia Commons Profile of Frances Alda New Zealand s most famous daughter Archived 16 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine Melba versus Alda Madame Frances Alda Does Not Seem to Like Australia Photo from the Library of Congress s George Grantham Bain Collection Caruso and Alda singing Verdi on YouTube Historical recording in 1912 with Caruso on YouTube Vitaphone Short Film 1927 Alda sings the Ave Maria from Verdi s Otello on YouTube Frances Alda recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frances Alda amp oldid 1213160563, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
