Description

MARIO CHAMLEE (LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, MAY 29, 1892 – LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, NOVEMBER 13, 1966)

His real name was Archer Cholmondeley. He began his studies in science at the University of Southern California before turning to singing, which he studied under Achille Alberti in Los Angeles. He made his debut in 1916 in Los Angeles as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor. After further vocal training with Sibella and Dellera in New York, he embarked on a tour with the Aborn Opera Company in 1917, adopting the stage name Mario Rodolfi. His partner on this tour was the soprano Ruth Miller (1892–1983), who performed under the name Francesca Milena. The two married in 1919.

From 1917 to 1919, he served as a soldier in World War I. Upon returning to the United States, he sang with the Scotti Opera Company during the 1919–20 season. In 1920, he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, making his debut as Cavaradossi in Tosca. He was active at the Met during the 1920–21 season and again from 1927–28. During this time, he also performed in San Francisco (1927 and 1931) and appeared annually at the Ravinia Summer Opera in Chicago from 1921 to 1931.

From 1928 to 1936, he performed extensively in Europe, primarily at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, but also in Brussels, Liège, Lille, Bordeaux, Nice, the Vienna Volksoper, and the German Theatre in Prague. In 1933, he appeared at the Chicago Opera. From 1936 to 1939, he returned to the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he sang in the premieres of R. Hageman’s Caponsacchi (1937) and G. Menotti’s Amelia Goes to the Ball (1938).

In 1940, he retired from the stage and, alongside his wife, dedicated himself to teaching voice in Los Angeles.

Chronology of some appearances

Il duca di Mantova 6/5/1920, B. F. Pinkerton 4/4/1922, 12/12/1922, Il duca di Mantova 2/6/1923, Uin-San-Lui 11/27/1923, Rodolfo 2/26/1924, B. F. Pinkerton 1/13/1925, Il duca di Mantova 6/5/1926, B. F. Pinkerton 3/8/1927, Hoffmann 2/14/1928, Jeník 12/22/1936, L’amante 3/3/1938, 3/8/1938, 1/11/1939 (in Filadelfia)

TRACKLIST

1. Africaine (Meyerbeer) O paradiso 15040 Brunswick, New York City, January 1923
2. Bohème (Puccini) Che gelida manina 50003 Brunswick, New York City, 1921 or 1922
3. Bohemian girl (Balfe) When other lips and other hearts 10227 Brunswick, New York City, 1927
4. Call me no more (Cadman) 15051 Brunswick, New York City, April 1923
5. Carmen (Bizet) Il fior che avevi a me tu dato 7106 Lyric, New York City, 1917
6. Carmen (Bizet) La fleur que tu m’avais jetée 30018 Brunswick, New York City, 1921
7. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Brindisi 15056 10205 Brunswick, New York City, 28 March 1923
8. Cavalleria rusticana (Mascagni) Viva il vino 15056 10205 Brunswick, New York City, 28 March 1923
9. Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Com’è gentil 15194 Brunswick, New York City, 19 October 1928
10. Dreams dimly lying (Roxas) 15065 Brunswick, New York City, 1923
11. Dreams of long ago (Caruso) 15161 Brunswick, New York City, 29 April 1927
12. Elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Una furtiva lagrima 7102 6143-1 Lyric, New York City, 1917
13. Elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Una furtiva lagrima 50030 Brunswick, New York City, 15 February 1923
14. Faust (Gounod) Il se fait tard (w. Easton) 50157 Brunswick, New York City, 8 October 1928
15. Faust (Gounod) Salut, demeure 50030 Brunswick, New York City, 15 March 1923
16. For you alone (Geehl) 15161 Brunswick, New York City, 10 June 1927
17. Forza del destino (Verdi) Solenne in quest’ora (w. Bonelli) 50142 XE27552 Brunswick, New York City, 15 May 1928
18. Fra Diavolo (Auber) On yonder rock reclining 10227 Brunswick, New York City, 1927
19. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Cielo e mar 15056 10362 Brunswick, New York City, April 1923
20. Hosanna (Granier) 30110 X14840 Brunswick, New York City, 6 February 1925
21. Ideale (Tosti) 15213 Brunswick, New York City, 10 April 1928
22. In a Persian garden (Liza Lehmann) Ah, moon of my delight 30103 Brunswick, New York City, 1922 or 1923
23. L’alba separa dalla luce l’ombra (Tosti) 50020 Brunswick, New York City, October 1922
24. Lolita (Buzzi-Peccia) 15037 9355 Brunswick, New York City, December 1922
25. Manon (Massenet) Ah fuyez 50003 Brunswick, New York City, 1921 or 1922