Description

EDITH HELENA (BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, 23. 12. 1876 – MOUNT KISCOE, NEW YORK, 27. 11. 1956)

Her real name was Edith Helen Seymour. Her mother had been a singer too. Already at the age of nine she sang in a children’s choir. She studied singing under Tagliapietra and Alberto de Bassini. In 1906 her opera debut took place at the New York Academy of Music as Violetta in ‘’Traviata’’. In the 1907-1909 seasons she undertook concert tour through North America. In 1910 she joined the Aborn English Grand Opera Company and made her debut as Lucia in ‘’Lucia di Lammermoor’’. She married the tenor of this opera troupe Domenico Russo. Since 1911 she sang at this opera society a huge number of opera parts, included Marguerite in ‘’Faust’’, Leonora in ‘’Trovatore’’, Nedda in ‘’Pagliacci’’, Mariella in ‘’I Gioielli della Madonna’’, Thaïs, Cio-Cio-San in ‘’Madama Butterfly’’, Carmen, the title part in ‘’Martha’’ and Arline in ‘’The Bohemian Girl’’. In 1918 she became a member of the Century Opera Company. Since 1921 she completely devoted herself to the Vaudeville and the musical Comedy. She also appeared in American sound films. During the 1920’s she sang under the pseudonym ‘’Mme Pompadour’’ in rococo costumes in handicrafts theaters and cinemas. In 1941 she again sang at the Roxy Theater in New York. She opened in Mount Kiscoe a delicatessen store and at the end moved herself to the sales of exclusive upholstered furniture.

Chronology of some appearances

1906 New York Academy of Music

1907-1909 Tour through North America

1910 Aborn English Grand Opera Company

TRACKLIST

1. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Intermezzo (violin imitation) 9556 Edison 2-min cylinders, New York 1907
2. Comin’ thro’ the rye (trad) 16162-B Victor, 1908-12-03
3. Manon Lescaut (Auber) If you knew a maiden (Laughing song) 16192 B2231 Victor, 1908-12-03
4. Se saran rose (Melba waltz) (Arditi) 2388 A71 Victor, 1903-06-10
5. Sonnambula (Bellini) Ah non giunge 53151 1753k G&T, Berlin 1904
6. The last rose of summer (Moore) 2389 A73 Victor, 1903-06-10
7. The swallows (Cowen) 2509 B534 Victor, 1903-10-09
8. Sonnambula (Bellini): Ah, non giunge 35067 C2227 Victor, 1908-12-03
9. Rigoletto (Verdi): Gualtier Maldé… Caro nome 31362 C2230 Victor, 1905-02-09
10. Comin’ thro’ the rye (trad) 4273 B2232 Victor, 1905-02-09
11. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Intermezzo 5663 B-6661 Victor 1908-10-12
12. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Beloved idol (Tu, tu, piccolo iddio) 17346 B11396 Victor, Camden NJ 1911-12-21
13. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): What a sky (Ancora un passo) 17346 B11398 Victor, Camden NJ 1911-12-21
14. Trovatore (Verdi): Peaceful was the night (Tacea la notte placida) 35214 C11401 Victor, Camden NJ 1911-12-20
15. Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): Mad scene 35214 C11407 Victor, Camden NJ 1911-12-21
16. Lombardi (Verdi) Non fu sogno 53360 1953L G&T, Berlin 1904
17. Rigoletto (Verdi) Caro nome 53359 1952L G&T, Berlin 1904