Devora Nadworney | |
---|---|
![]() Devora Nadworney, from a 1921 publication | |
Born | 1895 New York City |
Died | January 7, 1948 (age 52) New York |
Occupation | Contralto opera singer |
Devora Nadworney (1895 – January 7, 1948) was an American operatic contralto singer.
Nadworney was born in New York City, [1] the daughter of Russian immigrants. She lived in Bayonne, New Jersey, and attended the Bayonne High School. [1] She went on to attend Hunter College, [1] where she received her B.A. [1] She later taught elementary school [2] while studying music in New York at the Aborn School of Opera. [3] She also studied with Johanna Bayerlee and Estelle Liebling. [4] [5] She sang on benefit programs with opera stars during World War I. [1]
In 1921, she won a prize from the Tri-City Convention of the National Federation of Music Clubs. [6] [7] A year later, in 1922, she was given the National Prize for Voice. [1]
Nadworney was a contralto singer. [1] [8] "Few young contraltos at present before the public can rival the equipment of Devora Nadworney", commented one publication in 1918. [3] She was under the management of Annie Friedberg in 1918, [9] and sang at Liberty Loan fundraisers [10] and gave concerts for the troops stationed near New York City during World War I. [11] She sometimes gave concerts of Russian folk songs while dressed in traditional embroidered costume. [12] She was also popular as a church soloist, in oratorios. [13] In 1921 she made a recording for the Victor Talking Machine Company. [14]
Nadworney had the distinction of being the first singer heard over a radio network in the United States, in 1928. [1] Through the 1920s and into the 1930s she was especially active in radio. [15] She sang the lead in Carmen on air in 1925, and Aida in 1926, both with the WEAF Grand Opera Company, under conductor Cesare Sodero. [16] [8] She was associated with the Chicago Civic Opera from 1925 until at least 1934. [17]
In 1945 she sang at a noon concert at New York City's Town Hall. [18]
Devora Nadworney married lawyer Herman Spingarn in 1935; and they divorced in 1941. She died in 1948, aged 52 years, in New York. Her obituary listing in Billboard Magazine described her as a "pioneer radio contralto... one of the first singers to perform over radio." [19] [20]
The National Federation of Music Clubs offers the Devora Nadworney Award for young composers. [21]
Devora Nadworney | |
---|---|
![]() Devora Nadworney, from a 1921 publication | |
Born | 1895 New York City |
Died | January 7, 1948 (age 52) New York |
Occupation | Contralto opera singer |
Devora Nadworney (1895 – January 7, 1948) was an American operatic contralto singer.
Nadworney was born in New York City, [1] the daughter of Russian immigrants. She lived in Bayonne, New Jersey, and attended the Bayonne High School. [1] She went on to attend Hunter College, [1] where she received her B.A. [1] She later taught elementary school [2] while studying music in New York at the Aborn School of Opera. [3] She also studied with Johanna Bayerlee and Estelle Liebling. [4] [5] She sang on benefit programs with opera stars during World War I. [1]
In 1921, she won a prize from the Tri-City Convention of the National Federation of Music Clubs. [6] [7] A year later, in 1922, she was given the National Prize for Voice. [1]
Nadworney was a contralto singer. [1] [8] "Few young contraltos at present before the public can rival the equipment of Devora Nadworney", commented one publication in 1918. [3] She was under the management of Annie Friedberg in 1918, [9] and sang at Liberty Loan fundraisers [10] and gave concerts for the troops stationed near New York City during World War I. [11] She sometimes gave concerts of Russian folk songs while dressed in traditional embroidered costume. [12] She was also popular as a church soloist, in oratorios. [13] In 1921 she made a recording for the Victor Talking Machine Company. [14]
Nadworney had the distinction of being the first singer heard over a radio network in the United States, in 1928. [1] Through the 1920s and into the 1930s she was especially active in radio. [15] She sang the lead in Carmen on air in 1925, and Aida in 1926, both with the WEAF Grand Opera Company, under conductor Cesare Sodero. [16] [8] She was associated with the Chicago Civic Opera from 1925 until at least 1934. [17]
In 1945 she sang at a noon concert at New York City's Town Hall. [18]
Devora Nadworney married lawyer Herman Spingarn in 1935; and they divorced in 1941. She died in 1948, aged 52 years, in New York. Her obituary listing in Billboard Magazine described her as a "pioneer radio contralto... one of the first singers to perform over radio." [19] [20]
The National Federation of Music Clubs offers the Devora Nadworney Award for young composers. [21]