Description

SOPHIE BRASLAU (MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, AUGUST 16, 1892 – MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, DECEMBER 22, 1935)

Braslau was born on August 16, 1892 in Manhattan, New York City to Abel Braslau and Alexandra Goodelman Braslau. As a child, Braslau studied piano. Her vocal talent was discovered by voice teacher Arturo Buzzi-Peccia, a family friend, who heard the little girl humming while she practiced piano. Braslau herself claimed to be inspired to a singing career after hearing Alma Gluck, another student of Buzzi-Peccia. She studied with Buzzi-Peccia for three years and then with a number of other instructors. She auditioned for New York’s Metropolitan Opera in April 1913, was promptly signed to a contract, and debuted in November of that year. Her first leading role was in 1918 as Shanewis. Braslau also sang in concert and toured widely and frequently, first in the United States and Canada, then in Europe in the 1920s, using a repertoire which included works in English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Yiddish. She retired from her full-time opera career in the late 1920s and performed very little as frail health brought her life to an early close. Sophie Braslau died of cancer on December 22, 1935 in Manhattan. At her funeral Sergei Rachmaninoff was an honorary pallbearer; the eulogy was delivered by Olin Downes, music critic for The New York Times.

TRACKLIST

1. Ma Li’l Batteau (Strickland) 1897-D W148387-2 Columbia, New York 1929-04-29 (TRC: 1929-04-30)
2. Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Tutti i fior (w. Alda) 89131 C22244-1 Victor, 1918-09-20
3. My Jesus as Thou wilt (Weber, melody from Freischutz) 64845 B23172-6 Victor, 1919-12-23
4. My Laddie Boy (Akst) 64983 B25339-3 Victor, 1921-06-07
5. My Lady Chlo (Clough-Leighter) 64742 B20344-2 Victor, 1917-07-17
6. Oh, dry those tears (del Riego) 74456 C16651-3 Victor, 1915-10-20
7. Old folks at home (Foster) (w. male quartet) 50120-D W98581-2 Columbia, New York 1928-09-05
8. Pirate dreams (Huerter) 64757 B20345-2 Victor, 1917-07-17
9. Same old, dear old place (Wilson) 74681 C24479-5 Victor, 1921-01-24
10. Some day you will miss me (Darewski) 66115 B27017-3 Victor, 1922-10-10?
11. Somebody loves me (Starr) 66084 B26487-3 Victor, 1922-05-24
12. Swedish love song (Halsey) 64475 B15228-1 Victor, 1914-09-28
13. Swingin’ Vine (Grosvenor) 64996 B25336 Victor, 1921-06-07
14. The Jasmine Door (Scott) 66044 B25337-5 Victor, 1922-01-23
15. The man I love (I & G Gershwin) 153-M W145973-10 Columbia, New York 1928-06-01 (TRC: 1928-06-05)
16. The sweetest story ever told (Stults) 64708 B20347-1 Victor, 1917-07-18
17. Thy beaming eyes (MacDowell) (w. piano) 64470 B15227-1 Victor, 1914-09-28
18. Vieni, o bella (Come to me, beloved) (Bassani) 7133-M W98380-5 Columbia, New York 1927-09-15 (TRC: 1927-09-16)
19. Villanella (Sibella) 64718 B20346-5 Victor, 1917-07-18
20. Yohrzeit (Silberta) 74595 C23038-2 Victor, 1919-06-27