Description

MABEL GARRISON (BALTIMORE, APRIL 24, 1886 – NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AUGUST 20, 1963)

She studied under prominent figures like Lucien Odenthal in Baltimore and at the Peabody Conservatory in Boston with E. Heimendahl. Her vocal technique was refined under the guidance of Oscar Saenger and Herbert Witherspoon in New York, preparing her for a professional debut in 1912 with the Aborn Opera Company in Boston, where she performed as Philine in Mignon.

Her Metropolitan Opera tenure (1913-1920) was significant, even though she initially performed only in concerts during her first season. She made her operatic debut at the Met in 1914 as Frasquita in Carmen. Her roles at the Met included Urbain in Les Huguenots, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, the title roles in Martha and Lucia di Lammermoor, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Oscar in Un ballo in maschera, Gilda in Rigoletto, and Biancofiore in Francesca da Rimini.

One of her notable achievements was participating in the American premiere of Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor in 1916, a tour that lasted until 1919 and included Lucy Gates among the cast. Her international career included appearances at the State Operas of Berlin and Hamburg, and the Cologne Opera in 1921. That same year, she embarked on a world-concert tour, further establishing her global reputation.

Her later career saw her joining the Chicago Opera (1925-1926), where she was particularly celebrated for her performance as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. After retiring from the stage, she devoted herself to teaching, becoming a faculty member at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1933, where she influenced a new generation of singers.

TRACKLIST

1. Bohemian Girl (Balfe) I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls 64641 B18980-2 Victor, 1917-01-11
2. Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) Les oiseaux dans la charmille 74482 C17804-1 Victor, 1916-06-06
3. Coq d’Or (Rimsky-Korsakov) Hymne au Soleil 64790 B21942-2 Victor, 1918-05-31
4. Dixie (Emmett) (w. Victor Male Qt: Macdonough, Werrenrath, Murphy & Hooley) 64637 B18971-1 Victor, 1917-01-08
5. Don Giovanni (Mozart) Là ci darem la mano (w. Werrenrath) 87569 B23741-2 Victor, 1920-02-18
6. Erminie (Jacobowski) Dear Mother in dreams I see her (Lullaby) (w. Victor Chorus: Baker, Macdonough, Murphy, Werrenrath & Hooley) 74481 C17803-1 Victor, 1916-06-06
7. Happy days (Strelezki) 64616 B17811-2 Victor, 1916-06-16
8. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Lieti Signori, Salute! AGSB70, Gramophone 1923-05-05
9. Lakmé (Delibes) Où va la jeune Hindoue 74491 C17833-2 Victor, 1916-06-15
10. L’Éclair (Halévy) Call me thine own 74612 C23742-2 Victor, 1920-02-18
11. Mignon (Thomas) Je suis Titania 74489 C17816-2 Victor, 1916-06-15
12. Mlle Modiste (Herbert) Kiss me again 64795 B22284-2 Victor, 1918-10-14
13. Norwegian Echo Song (Kom Kjyra) (Thrane) 64714 B18981-6 Victor, 1917-06-13
14. Parysatis (Saint-Saëns) The nightingale and the rose 64978 B25247-1 Victor, 1921-04-29
15. Perle du Brésil (David) Charmant oiseau 74542 C20036-2 Victor, 1917-06-13
16. Swing low, sweet Chariot (arr Guion) 64969 B24244-1 Victor, 1921-04-28
17. The Only Girl (Herbert) When you’re away 64899 B23751-4 Victor, 1920-04-28
18. Voci di primavera (Strauss) 74488 C17815-4 Victor, 1916-06-15
19. Vous dansez, Marquise (Lemaire) 64811 B22283-4 Victor, 1918-10-15
20. Emmett’s Lullaby (Emmett) 64695 B20010-1 Victor, 1917-06-04
21. The Quilting Party (Fletcher) (w. Criterion Qt: Young, Rench, Reardon & D Chalmers) Victor 64815 B22669-2 Victor, 1919-04-03
22. Come, Ye Disconsolate (Webbe) 64920 B23973-3 Victor, 1920-04-27