Description

MAY ESTHER PETERSON THOMPSON (OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, USA, OCTOBER 7, 1880 – AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA, OCTOBER 8, 1952)

She studied singing under Oscar Seagle and Jean de Reszke in Paris and made her debut in 1911 in Vichy. In 1914, she appeared at the Opéra-Comique as Lakmé in Léo Delibes’ Lakmé and also performed at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris. That same year, she made a guest appearance at the Municipal Theater of Zurich as Violetta in La Traviata.

During the 1917–1919 seasons, she was active at the New York Metropolitan Opera, debuting as Micaëla in Carmen. At the Met, she also performed roles such as Mimi in La Bohème, partnering with the famous tenor John McCormack. In 1922, she was re-engaged by the Metropolitan Opera but appeared only in the Sunday Night Concerts.

In 1923, she toured Europe as a soloist with the Harvard Glee Club. After her marriage, she retired from the stage in 1924 and settled in Texas, where her husband served as a commander of the Texas National Guard.

Chronology of some appearances

1914 Paris Opéra-Comique Lakmé (Lakmé)

1914 Zurich Municipal Theater Traviata (Violetta)

1917 New York Metropolitan Opera Carmen (Micaela)

TRACKLIST

1. Aloha Hoe (Liliuokalani) Vocalion 30107
2. Annie Laurie (Scott) Vocalion 30004
3. Boheme (Puccini) Mi chiamano Mimì Vocalion 54011
4. Bring back my bonnie to me (w. male qt) Vocalion 60007
5. Carry Me Back to Old Virginny (Bland) Vocalion 30102
6. Last rose of summer (Moore) Vocalion 30139
7. Norwegian Echo Song (Kom Kjyra!) (Bjerregaard – Thrane) Vocalion B 70037
8. Old Black Joe (Stephen Foster) Vocalion B 60000
9. Peer Gynt (Grieg) Solvejg’s Song Vocalion A 70037
10. Sweet Genevieve (Cooper – Tucker) (w. male qt) Vocalion 60007
11. The Cuckoo Song (Schoefer) Vocalion 30130
12. The Star (Rogers) Vocalion 30117