Description

ELIZABETH PARKINA (KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, 1882 – COLORADO SPRINGS, JUNE 10, 1922)

 

 

 

 

Her real name was Elizabeth Parkinson. She studied under Mathilde Marchesi in Paris and made her debut in 1902 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris as the title character in Delibes’ Lakmé. In 1904, she joined the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where she remained until 1907. During her engagement there, she appeared as Musetta in La Bohème and Siebel in Gounod’s Faust, and also replaced the indisposed prima donna Nellie Melba as Marguerite in the same opera.

In 1905, she toured Australia but does not appear to have sung in America. She was reportedly patronized by the famous Nellie Melba, who, however, is said to have later obstructed the young singer’s promising career.

Owing to illness, Parkinson was forced to retire early and did not perform after 1907. She died on her 50th birthday after a long illness.

A superbly beautiful coloratura soprano, she was trained according to the classical Marchesi method. She left twelve rare recordings for G&T (London, 1904–1907).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

I know a lovely garden (d’Hardelot) 3588 6292b G&T, London 1904-11-30

Killarney (Balfe) 3587 6204b G&T, London 1904-11-02

La Fée aux Chansons (Bemberg) 03088 666c G&T, London 1906-06-02

La serenata (Tosti) 3659 8225b G&T, London 1906-06-02

Ouvre tes yeux bleus (Massenet) 33532 6206b G&T, London 1904-11-02

Should he upbraid (Bishop) 3586 6201b G&T, London 1904-11-02

Spring (Tosti) 3651 8226b G&T, London 1906-06-02

The little grey linnet (Willeby) 3583 6289b G&T, London 1904-11-30

When you speak to me (d’Hardelot) 3581 6203b G&T, London 1904-11-02