Elsa Alsen | |
---|---|
Born | 7 April 1880 |
Died | 31 January 1975 (age 94) New York, U.S. |
Other names | Elsa Henneberger |
Occupation(s) | Opera singer, concert singer, voice teacher |
Elsa Alsen (7 April 1880 – 31 January 1975) was an American dramatic soprano and concert singer, born in Prussia, best known for her Wagnerian roles.
Alsen was born in Obra, Prussia, the daughter of a French mother and Norwegian father. [1] [2]
Alsen made her operatic debut in 1902, in Heidelberg. [1] She sang as a contralto early in her career, [3] [4] then as a dramatic soprano, often in Wagnerian roles, especially Brünnhilde and Isolde. [5] [6] She appeared with various German opera companies for twenty years before her American debut in 1923, while touring with the Wagnerian Opera Company. [7] She sang with the Chicago Civic Opera Company from 1925 to 1928. [1]
Alsen gave a concert at New York's Aeolian Hall with Georg Liebling in 1925. [8] She was "acclaimed with deafening applause" at a 1928 appearance in Detroit, [9] sang with the Washington National Opera in February 1928, [10] and sang arias at the Milwaukee Sängerfest later that year. [11] In 1929 she sang at a large Memorial Day event in Los Angeles. [12] She was a "favorite" at the Hollywood Bowl by 1930, [3] and in the 1930s she sang at four concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, [13] and was a concert soloist with Paul Althouse at several events, including a Sängerfest in St. Paul in 1932, [14] and with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1934. [15]
Alsen made several recordings in the 1920s, all on the Columbia label. [16] She appeared in an early sound-era film, The Rogue Song (1930). She was featured on radio programs in the 1930s. [17] She was appointed director of the Cecilia Music School of the Madonna House Settlement in 1937. [18] She taught voice students in New York City, into her eighties. [1]
Alsen married Richard Henneberger in 1913. She became a naturalized United States citizen in the 1930s. She died in 1975, at the age of 94, at a nursing home in New York City. [1]
Elsa Alsen | |
---|---|
Born | 7 April 1880 |
Died | 31 January 1975 (age 94) New York, U.S. |
Other names | Elsa Henneberger |
Occupation(s) | Opera singer, concert singer, voice teacher |
Elsa Alsen (7 April 1880 – 31 January 1975) was an American dramatic soprano and concert singer, born in Prussia, best known for her Wagnerian roles.
Alsen was born in Obra, Prussia, the daughter of a French mother and Norwegian father. [1] [2]
Alsen made her operatic debut in 1902, in Heidelberg. [1] She sang as a contralto early in her career, [3] [4] then as a dramatic soprano, often in Wagnerian roles, especially Brünnhilde and Isolde. [5] [6] She appeared with various German opera companies for twenty years before her American debut in 1923, while touring with the Wagnerian Opera Company. [7] She sang with the Chicago Civic Opera Company from 1925 to 1928. [1]
Alsen gave a concert at New York's Aeolian Hall with Georg Liebling in 1925. [8] She was "acclaimed with deafening applause" at a 1928 appearance in Detroit, [9] sang with the Washington National Opera in February 1928, [10] and sang arias at the Milwaukee Sängerfest later that year. [11] In 1929 she sang at a large Memorial Day event in Los Angeles. [12] She was a "favorite" at the Hollywood Bowl by 1930, [3] and in the 1930s she sang at four concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, [13] and was a concert soloist with Paul Althouse at several events, including a Sängerfest in St. Paul in 1932, [14] and with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1934. [15]
Alsen made several recordings in the 1920s, all on the Columbia label. [16] She appeared in an early sound-era film, The Rogue Song (1930). She was featured on radio programs in the 1930s. [17] She was appointed director of the Cecilia Music School of the Madonna House Settlement in 1937. [18] She taught voice students in New York City, into her eighties. [1]
Alsen married Richard Henneberger in 1913. She became a naturalized United States citizen in the 1930s. She died in 1975, at the age of 94, at a nursing home in New York City. [1]