Matja von Niessen-Stone (December 28, 1870 — June 8, 1948) was a Russian-born German concert singer. She sang with the Metropolitan Opera from 1908 to 1910.
Matja von Niessen was born in Moscow, the daughter of Hermann von Niessen, an architect, and Mathilde Bergmann von Niessen. She was raised in Germany by her mother after 1876, and educated there. She studied music under Adelina Paschalis, Etelka Gerster, and George Fergusson.[1]
Career
Matja von Niessen was variously classified as a mezzo-soprano, contralto, and mezzo-contralto during her career. She gave her debut concert in Dresden in 1890, and toured extensively in Europe after that. She was appointed as an instructor at the Imperial School of Music in Odessa in 1896, and in 1901 at music school in Riga.[1]
She moved to the United States in 1906. "Matja von Niessen-Stone is the mistress of a faultless vocal method and unusual interpretive gifts," noted an American publication in 1907, "an unalloyed treat for discerning music lovers."[2] Matja von Niessen-Stone made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1908, in Die Walküre; she also appeared in productions of La Traviata, Carmen, Faust, Rigoletto, and Cavalleria Rusticana.[3][4] She was a last-minute substitute for Louise Homer in 1910, when she was too ill to perform in Tristan und Isolde in Boston.[5] Also in 1910, she sang at a meeting for women's suffrage in New York.[6] She was known for her impressive language skills, and for singing new works by American women composers such as Carrie Jacobs-Bond, Rhea Silberta, Emilie Frances Bauer, and Fay Foster.[7][8]
She also taught at Frank Damrosch's Institute of Musical Art in New York (precursor to the Juilliard School),[9] where she was head of the vocal department.[10][11][8] Later in life, she taught at the Delaware School of Music, and at the Zeckwer-Hahn Philadelphia Musical Academy.[12]
Personal life
Matja von Niessen married W. E. Stone in 1897, in Berlin. They had a son, Patrick William Stone.[1] Matja von Niessen-Stone died in 1948, aged 77 years, in New York City.
References
^ abcGeorge Derby, James Terry White, The National Cyclopædia of American Biography (J. T. White 1910): 434.
^"Soloists Help Elgar's 'Apostles'" Musical Courier (March 27, 1907): 39.
^H. Warner Waid, "Former 'Met' Singer to Teach at Delaware School of Music" Morning News (April 2, 1941): 21. via Newspapers.com
January 06, 2023
matja, niessen, stone, december, 1870, june, 1948, russian, born, german, concert, singer, sang, with, metropolitan, opera, from, 1908, 1910, niessen, stone, from, 1919, publicationbackground, informationbirth, namematja, niessenborn, 1870, december, 1870mosco. Matja von Niessen Stone December 28 1870 June 8 1948 was a Russian born German concert singer She sang with the Metropolitan Opera from 1908 to 1910 Matja von Niessen Stonevon Niessen Stone from a 1919 publicationBackground informationBirth nameMatja von NiessenBorn 1870 12 28 December 28 1870Moscow RussiaOriginDresden GermanyDiedJune 8 1948 1948 06 08 aged 77 New York City New York U S GenresOperaOccupation s SingerYears active1890 1940s Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly life EditMatja von Niessen was born in Moscow the daughter of Hermann von Niessen an architect and Mathilde Bergmann von Niessen She was raised in Germany by her mother after 1876 and educated there She studied music under Adelina Paschalis Etelka Gerster and George Fergusson 1 Career EditMatja von Niessen was variously classified as a mezzo soprano contralto and mezzo contralto during her career She gave her debut concert in Dresden in 1890 and toured extensively in Europe after that She was appointed as an instructor at the Imperial School of Music in Odessa in 1896 and in 1901 at music school in Riga 1 She moved to the United States in 1906 Matja von Niessen Stone is the mistress of a faultless vocal method and unusual interpretive gifts noted an American publication in 1907 an unalloyed treat for discerning music lovers 2 Matja von Niessen Stone made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1908 in Die Walkure she also appeared in productions of La Traviata Carmen Faust Rigoletto and Cavalleria Rusticana 3 4 She was a last minute substitute for Louise Homer in 1910 when she was too ill to perform in Tristan und Isolde in Boston 5 Also in 1910 she sang at a meeting for women s suffrage in New York 6 She was known for her impressive language skills and for singing new works by American women composers such as Carrie Jacobs Bond Rhea Silberta Emilie Frances Bauer and Fay Foster 7 8 She also taught at Frank Damrosch s Institute of Musical Art in New York precursor to the Juilliard School 9 where she was head of the vocal department 10 11 8 Later in life she taught at the Delaware School of Music and at the Zeckwer Hahn Philadelphia Musical Academy 12 Personal life EditMatja von Niessen married W E Stone in 1897 in Berlin They had a son Patrick William Stone 1 Matja von Niessen Stone died in 1948 aged 77 years in New York City References Edit a b c George Derby James Terry White The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography J T White 1910 434 Soloists Help Elgar s Apostles Musical Courier March 27 1907 39 Matja von Niessen Stone MetOperaFamily org Madame von Niessen Stone Engaged for Metropolitan Musical Courier June 24 1908 12 Mrs Homer Ill Opera Plans Upset New York Times January 10 1910 9 via ProQuest Women s Suffrage Meeting Concert and Dinner in the Club Rooms Editor and Publisher May 7 1910 8 Matja Niessen Stone Impresses Large Audience Musical Leader November 21 1918 490 a b Mme Niessen Stone Inaugurates Series of Three Native Programs Musical America March 15 1919 31 Madame von Niessen Stone s Recital Musical Courier May 6 1908 18 Dixie Hines Harry Prescott Hanaford Who s who in Music and Drama H P Hanaford 1914 309 310 Some Niessen Stone Singers Musical Leader November 21 1918 486 H Warner Waid Former Met Singer to Teach at Delaware School of Music Morning News April 2 1941 21 via Newspapers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matja von Niessen Stone amp oldid 1084211698, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
