Description

ELSA STRALIA (NORWOOD, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 1 MARCH, 1881 – BELGRAVE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, 31 AUGUST, 1945)

Elsie Mary Fischer, known professionally as Elsa Stralia, was born to the German baritone Hugo Fischer, who had emigrated to Australia. She initially received her musical education from her father and later studied at the Albert Street Conservatory in Melbourne under Elise Wiedermann. She then further honed her vocal technique with conductor and impresario Gustav Slapoffski in Sydney. She began her career singing concerts under the name Elsa Adela in Australia, and in 1910, she performed in London under this name.

Stralia’s musical journey took her to Italy, where she became a pupil of the esteemed teacher Falchi in Milan. It was in Italy that she adopted the name Elsa Stralia, and made her professional debut at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa. In 1913, she performed the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni at Covent Garden in London. The following year, she returned to Covent Garden, where she sang a wide range of roles, including Elsa in Lohengrin, Elisabeth in Tannhäuser, Leonora in Il Trovatore, Amelia in Ballo in maschera, and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana.

During World War I, she gave numerous concerts in England and Ireland and enjoyed considerable success when she performed the role of Aida at the Drury Lane Theatre in London under Sir Thomas Beecham. In 1920, she performed at the Concerts Lamoureux in Paris. Her career took her on extensive concert tours through England, North America, and Australia, and in 1929, she undertook a major tour across the United States.

In 1933, while on a tour in New Zealand, she married Adolphe Christensen, and they settled in Auckland, where she lived from 1933 to 1943. In her later years, she returned to Melbourne, where she became involved in music education. Elsa Stralia’s remarkable career left a significant impact on the opera and concert scene, particularly in England, Italy, and Australia.

Chronology of some appearances

1912 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice

1913 London Covent Garden

1914 London Covent Garden

TRACKLIST

1. Faust (Gounod) Jewel song (It) 7195 6855 Columbia, London 1915/1916
2. Semiramide (Rossini) Bel raggio 7193 6630 Columbia, London 1915/1916
3. Goodbye (Tosti) 7119 6651 Columbia, London 19151916
4. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Voi lo sapete 7196 Columbia, London 19171918
5. 6. Aida (Verdi) Nile Duet, pt 1 and pt 2 with Frank Mullings 7248 74063, 7249 74064 Columbia, London 1920-05-05
6. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Elisabeth’s greeting 7243 74067 Columbia, London 1920-05-05
7. Oberon (Weber) Ocean thou mighty monster 7259 74274 Columbia, London 1920-05-05
8. Carmen (Bizet) My Mother I Behold (Mia madre vedo ancor) with Frank Mullings 7258 74106 Columbia, London 1920-05-16
9. Ernani (Verdi) Ernani, involami Columbia 74005, London 1920-05-16
10. I love the moon (Rubens) with Maxim Brodi 7133 Columbia 1927
11. I wonder if love is a dream (Foster) 7327 75869 Columbia 1924
12. Il bacio (Arditi) 7126 6854 Columbia, London 1915/1916
13. Invitation (Owen) 7117 6631 Columbia, London 1915/1916
14. It is only a tiny Garden (Wood) 7155 75868 Columbia, London 1917/1918
15. O Lovely Night (Teschemacher & Ronald) with Maxim Brodi 7133 6856 Columbia 1927
16. Sing, joyous bird (Phillips) 7137 7325 Columbia, London 1915/1916
17. Trovatore (Verdi) Tacea la notte 7197 75943 Columbia, London 1917/1918
18. Tom Jones (German) waltz song 7223 76396 Columbia, London 1918/1919