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. Manon (Massenet) En fermant les yeux 15040 Brunswick, New York City, January 1923
2. Manon (Massenet) En fermant les yeux 15111 Brunswick, New York City, 1926
3. Marchéta (Schertzinger) 10101 Brunswick, New York City, 14 August 1924
4. Martha (Flotow) Solo, profugo (w. Bonelli) 50142 XE27553 Brunswick, New York City, 15 May 1928
5. Mattinata (Leoncavallo) 10109 9359 Brunswick, New York City, December 1922
6. Memory Lane (Conrad-Spier) 10101 Brunswick, New York City, 19 September 1924
7. Mignon (Thomas) Adieu, Mignon 50141 Brunswick, New York City, 15 May 1928
8. Mon gentil Pierrot (Leoncavallo) 15178 Brunswick, New York City, 26 April 1928
9. My dreams (Tosti) 10107 Brunswick, New York City, February 1922
10. ‘O sole mio (Di Capua) 10042 Brunswick, New York City, May 1921
11. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba 15007 Brunswick, New York City, 1920
12. Parted (Tosti) 10107 Brunswick, New York City, March 1922
13. Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna è mobile 15194 Brunswick, New York City, 28 October 1928
14. Santa Lucia (Cottrau) 10103 3889 Brunswick, New York City, 1920
15. Si vous l’aviez compris (Denza) 15178 Brunswick, New York City, 5 April 1928
16. Thank God for a garden (del Riego) 10026 Brunswick, New York City, 1920
17. The last hour (Kramer) 10115 Brunswick, New York City, 1923
18. Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle 7102 6111-2 Lyric, New York City, 1917
19. Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle 10024 Brunswick, New York City, 1920
20. Traviata (Verdi) Parigi, o cara (w. Easton) 50157 XE28459 Brunswick, New York City, 8 October 1928
21. Triste ritorno (Barthélemy) 50020 Brunswick, New York City, October 1922
22. Trovatore (Verdi) Ai nostri monti (w. Onegin) 15093 12632 Brunswick, New York City, 5 March 1924
23. Trovatore (Verdi) Mal reggendo (w. Onegin) 15093 12634 Brunswick, New York City, 5 March 1924
24. When my ships come sailing home (Dorel) 50040 X11618 Brunswick, New York 1923-10-15
25. Your voice (Quirke) 10111 Brunswick, New York City, April 1923