Description

CLARA SERENA KLEINSCHMIDT (LOBETHAL, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 9 JUNE, 1890 – ALDERSGATE VILLAGE, FELIXSTOW, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 11 AUGUST, 1972)

She completed her singing training in Adelaide and before the First World War in London with Harry Blower and at the Royal College of Music with Visetti. She began her career as a concert singer in Australia. She was supported by the well-known Australian contralto Ada Crossley. During the years of the First World War she sang in Australia, including in charity concerts with the great prima donna Nellie Melba. In 1920 she married the pianist Roy Mellish. In 1922 she toured Australia with him and Ada Crossley. She now turned to opera singing and from 1923 had important successes at the London Covent Garden Opera as Dalila in “Samson et Dalila” by Saint-Saëns and as Amneris in “Aida”, as Erda and as Waltraute in the Nibelungenring. In England she also performed with the British National Opera Company, but otherwise had her greatest successes as a concert and primarily as an oratorio alto, especially in Handel’s “Messiah” and Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”. During the Second World War she lived in England. In 1951 the artist returned to her native Australia.

TRACKLIST

1. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Voci di donna K-05227 Vocalion, London
2. Lament of Isis (Bantock) K-05252 Vocalion, London
3. Maritana (Wallace) 5) Alas! Those chimes DB615 Columbia, London
4. Maritana (Wallace) 6) Turn on, old time (w. Noble & Nash) DB615 Columbia, London
5. Maritana (Wallace) 11) Sainted Mother (w. Licette) DB617 Columbia, London
6. Merrie England (German) Vocal Gems (part 1) with Miriam Licette, Francis Russell, Dennis Noble and Robert Carr Columbia AX4961 9893 1929
7. Merrie England (German) Vocal Gems (part 2) with Miriam Licette, Francis Russell, Dennis Noble and Robert Carr Columbia AX4962-1 9893 1929
8. My dearest heart (Sullivan) K-05252 Vocalion, London
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10. Sacred Songs Holy city; Nearer my God to Thee; Abide with me (w. Baillie, Francis Russell & Allin) DX296 CAX6163 Columbia, London 1931-0607
11. Sacred Songs The better land; The Lord is my light; The lost chord (w. Baillie, Francis Russell & Allin) DX296 CAX6164 Columbia, London 1931-0607
12. Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Fair spring is returning DX245 WAX5159 Columbia, London 1929
13. Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) O love from thy power DX245 WAX5158 Columbia, London 1929
14. Second minuet (Besly) K-05240 Vocalion, London
15. Silver threads among the gold (Mellish) (columbia5362)
16. Silver threads among the gold (Mellish) K-05240 Vocalion, London
17. Sweet and low (Wallace) K-05305 Vocalion, London
18. Till I wake (Finden) K-05305 Vocalion, London
19. Xerxes (Handel) Ombra mai fu M0412 M0412X Vocalion