Description

RALPH ERROLLE (22 SEPTEMBER, 1890 (OR 1888) CHICAGO – 2 SEPTEMBER 1973, PHILADELPHIA (OR BIRMINGHAM)

 

 

 

 

He studied singing under Herman Devriès in Chicago and made his debut in 1909 at the Chicago Opera in Auber’s Fra Diavolo. After briefly performing in musical comedies, he was a member of the Chicago Opera from 1913–14 and again from 1916–17.

From 1920–23, he lived in Australia. Upon returning to America, he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1924 as Roméo in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, performing opposite Lucrezia Bori. He remained at the Metropolitan Opera until 1926 and also sang for several years at the Philadelphia Opera. In 1926, he took part in the Philadelphia premiere of Stravinsky’s opera Le Rossignol, and in 1929, he performed in the American premiere of E. Goossens’ opera Judith.

After 1930, he worked as a vocal coach in Newark and founded a touring opera company that traveled across North America. Occasionally, he performed alongside his daughter, the lyric soprano Martha Errolle. Later, he was appointed as a professor at Louisiana State University.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1909 Chicago Opera House Fra Diavolo

1913-14 and 1916-17 Chicago Opera House

1924 Metropolitan Opera Roméo et Juliette (Romeo)

1926 Philadelphia Opera House Le Rossignol (-)

 

TRACKLIST

 

A little love, a little kiss (Silesu) Edison 80397 BA 3468

Alice, where art thou (Ascher) Edison 80697 BA 3520

Answer (Robyn) Edison 80771 5979

Carmen (Bizet) Parle-moi de ma mère (w. Case) Edison 82560 6305-C

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Ave Maria Edison 1061

Goodnight, little girl, goodnight (Macy) Edison 80680 5844

I hear you calling me (Marshall) Edison 80811 5971

Just dreaming of you (Eastman) Edison 82179 BA 3495

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Verrano a te (w. Case) Edison 80758 8496

Mother, my dear (Treherne) Edison 82148 BA 3625

My dreams (Tosti) Edison 80603 5978

Rigoletto (Verdi) E il sol dell’anima (w. Case) Edison 80758 8505

Roi d’Ys (Lalo) Aubade Edison 80397 5838-B

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Ah, ne fuis pas encore (w. Verlet) Edison 82299 5967-A

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Ange adorable (w. Verlet) Edison 82211 5961

Sweet Genevieve (Tucker) Edison 80771 5981

The sweetest story ever told (Stults) Edison BA 3561