Description

ALBERT LINDQUEST (CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA, 24 SEPTEMBER, 1891 – CALIFORNIA, 1984)

He was born in Chicago of Swedish immigrant parents. His first two teachers were students of Manuel Garcia. It was at age 19 that he made his concert and opera debut which led to a tour with the Minnesota Symphony. He was a solo singer from the time he was 15 years of age. His excellent training at this young age laid the groundwork for his singing and teaching career. In 1914, he traveled to Paris to study with Jean de Reszke. Two weeks after he arrived, World War I broke out and he returned to New York, where he established himself as Thomas Edison’s favorite recording tenor. He also became quite a starring tenor in the Vaudeville circuit making a minimum of $1000 dollars per week. His solo career flourished and he was one of the two most famous tenors in New York at the time. In 1917, he sang for Enrico Caruso. Caruso wanted him to go to Italy to study, however, his career interfered with such plans. He also sang on radio under the name of Alan Rogers, his stage name in films in 1934 in Hollywood. Lindquest also had a regular radio concert program at the time. In 1938, he traveled to Stockholm, Sweden to study with Inge Borg Isene, a student of Dr. Gillis Bratt. Kirsten Flagstad gave Dr. Bratt credit for building her voice from a small weak voice to what was to become a world famous Dramatic Soprano voice. Mme. Isene taught Flagstad after Dr. Bratt’s death. It was during this time that Lindquest coached the young Birgit Nilsson and became friends with the then not so famous Jussi Bjoerling. They shared many times together sharing vocal ideas and making comparisons. Lindquest stayed in Europe until Hitler invaded Poland at which time he returned to the United States. Alan Lindquest became one of the foremost vocal researchers of his time. During 1955, he taught the famous vocal teacher William Vennard (teacher of Marilyn Horne). Lindquest’s contributions to the world of vocal technique have still not been fully realized, however, his work is more and more recognized as some of the most important in the world of vocal teaching. He single-handedly helped to save a school of training which otherwise might have been lost.

TRACKLIST

1. Farewell, Marguerite (Boardman) 80512 7174-C Edison, New York 1920-02-20/23
2. Faust (Gounod) Trio final (w. Escobar de Castro & Lazzari) 80752 7179-D Edison, New York 1920-02-23/28
3. Favorita (Donizetti) Angel of light 82272 6586-C Edison, New York 1919-01
4. Giannina mia The Firefly (Friml) 80606 7184 as Allan Rogers Edison22 6 1920 New York, New York
5. Goodbye (Tosti) 80508 6581-K Edison, New York 1919-07/08
6. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God (Gounod) Calvary Choir & Betsy Lane Shepherd, Virginia Rea, John Young, Horatio Rench, George W. Reardon, Donald Chalmers and Helen Clark 80513 6918 Edison 1919-08-27
7. If you only knew (van Tilzer) as Allan Rogers BA 4396 8097 Edison, New York 1921-06-27
8. I’ll forget you (Ball) as Allan Rogers 50859 8074-A Edison, New York 1921-06-16
9. Lassie o’ mine (Bowles) 80609 7555-C Edison, New York 1920-10-01/06
10. Macushla (MacMurrough) 80508 6610-C Edison, New York 1919-02-01/10
11. Messe Solonnelle Ste-Cécilia (Gounod) Sanctus 80513 6918-C Edison, New York 1919-08
12. Mother Machree (Olcott) BA 4177 7148-B Edison, New York 1920-02-05/06