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

 

 

Martha (Flotow) Like a Dream 10016 3891 Brunswick, New York City, 1920

Martha (Flotow) Solo profugo (w. Bonelli) 50142 XE27553-A Brunswick, New York City, 15 May 1928

Mattinata (Leoncavallo) 10109 9359 Brunswick, New York City, December 1922

Mattinata (Leoncavallo) 15207 E27566 Brunswick, New York City, 18 May 1928

Me neenyah (Spencer) 10158 14659-14661 Brunswick, New York City, 30 January 1925

Memory Lane (Conrad-Spier) 10101 13824 Brunswick, New York City, 19 September 1924

Mignon (Thomas) Adieu, Mignon 50141 XE27222-XE27223 Brunswick, New York City, 1928

Mignon (Thomas) Elle ne croyait pas 50141 XE27120 XE27119-XE27120 Brunswick, New York City, 1928

Millions d’Arlequin (Drigo) Moonlight shining bright 10121 13637-13639 Brunswick, New York City, 29 July 1924

Mon gentil Pierrot (Leoncavallo) 15178 E27435 Brunswick, New York City, 26 April 1928

Moon Dream Shore (Dick-Lockhart) 10117B 12561 Brunswick, New York City, February 1924

My dearest enemy (Rodgers) Here in my arms 10124 E17601-E17603 Brunswick, New York City, 4 August 192

My dreams (Tosti) 10107 7520-7521 Brunswick, New York City, February 1922

My dreams (Tosti) 10230 E18301-E18303 Brunswick, New York City, 1927

O dry those tears (del Riego) 30104 X13635 Brunswick, New York City, 29 July 1924

O holy night (Adam) 10045 6650-6651 Brunswick, New York City, October or November 1921