Description

EVELYN SCOTNEY (BALLARAT, AUSTRALIA, 11 JULY, 1886 – LONDON, 5 AUGUST, 1967)

 

 

 

 

Her voice was discovered in 1910 by the famous prima donna Nellie Melba during her Australian tours. She initially received her education at the conservatoire in Melbourne under Elise Wiedermann and later studied singing in Paris with Mathilde Marchesi de Castrone.

She made her debut in 1912 at the Boston Opera as Lucia di Lammermoor. She married Boston tenor Howard White, and together they embarked on concert tours across North America and Australia. After achieving success in Boston, she was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York for the 1919-1921 seasons. She made her Met debut as Eudoxia in Halévy’s La Juive.

During her time at the Metropolitan Opera, she performed roles such as Lucia di Lammermoor, the Queen of Shemakhan in The Golden Cock, and Norina in Don Pasquale (the latter as a partner of Enrico Caruso). She also gave recitals throughout the USA, Canada, and Australia, enjoying significant success in England. Around 1935, she transitioned primarily into a concert soprano career, performing less frequently on stage.

In addition to her vocal talents, she was a gifted pianist and developed a substantial talent as a painter. She trained in the classical style of the Marchesi school, which contributed to her refined vocal technique.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1912 Boston Opera Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucia)

1919-1921 New York Metropolitan Opera La Juive (Eudoxia)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Una voce poco fa 70004 10594 Vocalion, USA 1922-12?

Bid me discourse (Bishop) E494 (3-3229) Bb11649-5 HMV, London 1927-11-25

Blue Danube Waltz (Strauss) 70000 10581 Vocalion, USA 1922-12?

Caller herrin’ (trad) E450 (3-3134) Bb9067-4,4A HMV, London 1927-01-07

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Mi tradi D1119 (2-053268) Cc8761-2 HMV, London 1926-07-16

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Non mi dir D1119 (2-053267) Cc8760-2 HMV, London 1926-07-16

Elfin song (Wolf) E481 (3-3118) Bb9068-3 HMV, London 1926-10-06

Faust (Gounod) Air des bijoux 52009 7111 Vocalion, USA 1921-03

Hamlet (Thomas) I pray you, listen (Mad scene, pt 2) D968 (03846) Cc5637-2 HMV, London 1925-01-20

I passed by your window (Brahe) 30161 60041 Vocalion, USA 1922

Little star (Estrellita) (Ponce) E406 (3-3024) Bb6739-1 HMV, London 1925-09-23

Lo, here the gentle lark (Bishop) 30157 9030 Vocalion, USA 1922-05

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Mad scene 55004 5472 Vocalion, USA 1920

Manon Lescaut (Auber) C’est l’histoire amoureuse D968 (2-033098) Cc5638-3 HMV, London 1925-01-20

Si mes vers avaient des ailes (Hahn) 60004 10695 Vocalion, USA 1922-12?

O whistle and I’ll come tae ye, my lad (trad) E450 (3-3133) Bb9070-4,4A HMV, London 1927-01-07