Description

BETTINA FREEMAN (BOSTON, 1889 – ?)

 

 

 

 

This Boston-born opera singer had a flourishing career with the San Carlo Opera Company from 1913 to 1920. She was born to a French mother and an American father of German descent. Her musical education began early, starting with piano lessons at the age of thirteen under Madame de Berg Lofgren, who also became her vocal instructor when she was sixteen.

When the Boston Opera was founded, Madame Lofgren introduced her promising young pupil to the opera school, where she received further coaching from Minetti and Conti. This led to her debut as Siebel in Faust, and she performed with the Boston Opera Company for one season.

Eager to take on more significant roles, she moved to New York and joined the Quinlan Opera Company. With them, she toured England and Scotland, performing leading roles such as Madame Butterfly, Micaela, and Gretel. Impressively, she even took on the challenging role of Elizabeth in Tannhäuser, despite its difficulty for a young singer.

Her voice, a mezzo-soprano with an exceptional range, quickly gained attention. Interestingly, in 1907, she made a brief attempt to study in Paris but had to return to Boston after just a few lessons due to illness. Despite this, she made her operatic debut with almost no European study or experience, showcasing her natural talent and determination.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1909 Boston Opera House Aida (Sacerdotessa)

1910 Chicago Auditorium Carmen (Mercedes)

1916 New York Hotel Astoria Aida (Aida)

1918 Città del Messico Teatro Virginia Fabregas Gioconda (Gioconda)

1919 Winnipeg Teatro Walker Cavalleria rusticana (Santuzza)

1920 Calgary Grand Theater Faust (Margherita)

1921 Los Angeles Philarmonic Theater Trovatore (Leonora)

1922 New York Academy Theater Otello (Desdemona)

1924 Gorizia Teatro Sociale Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)

1925 Sanremo Teatro del Casinò Fedora (Fedora)

1926 Messina Teatro Mastroieni Fedora (Fedora)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. A little thief (Stern) A856 4452 Columbia, New York 1910-04-23
2. Addio (Tosti) A5225 30387-3 Columbia, New York 1910-03-17
3. Bohemian Girl (Balfe) I dreamt I dwelt A5225 30476-1 Columbia, New York 1910-04-23
4. Faust (Gounod) Le parlate d’amor 30398 A5214 Columbia, New York 1910-03-23
5. Lakmé (Delibes) Sous le dome épais (w. Bronskaja) A5186 30471 Columbia, New York 1910-04-21
6. L’Ardita Waltz (Arditi) A5213 30394-2 Columbia, New York 1910-03-23
7. Lohengrin (Wagner) Elsa’s dream 575 6410 Columbia, London 1914
8. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Chi mi frena (w. Bronskaja, Constantino, Blanchart, Mardones & Cilla) H1020 30443 Columbia, New York 1910-04-15
9. Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Voi che sapete A5214 30388-1 Columbia, New York 1910-03-17
10. Rigoletto (Verdi): Quartet (w. Bronskaja, Constantino & Blanchart) H1029 30422 Columbia, New York 1910-04-11
11. The little Irish girl (Löhr) (date) Columbia A856 4451 Columbia, New York 1910-04-23
12. The Valley of Laughter (Sanderson) 500 6412 Columbia, London 1914
13. Trovatore (Verdi) Stride la vampa A5215 30399 Columbia, New York 1910-03-23
14. Ugonotti (Meyerbeer) Nobil, Signori A5215 30393 Columbia, New York 1910-03-23