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

 

 

Perle du Brésil (David) Charmant oiseau 52027 8306 Vocalion, USA 1921-11

Rigoletto (Verdi) Caro nome 55002 5941 Vocalion, USA 1920

Rigoletto (Verdi) Dearest name D1024 (03859) Cc6519-1 HMV, London 1925-08-13 (ac)

Rigoletto (Verdi) Piangi fanciulla (w. Rimini) 52016 7154 Vocalion, USA 1921-03

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Je veux vivre 70000 8480 Vocalion, USA 1921-12?

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Waltz song HMV D1435 (03920) Cc12168-2,2A HMV, London 1927-12-20

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

Song of the nightingale (Saint-Saëns) (Parysatis) HMV E481 (3-3213) Bb9070-4,4A HMV, London 1927-01-07

The bird in the wood (Taubert) HMV E406 (3-3023) Bb6738-1 HMV, London 1925-09-23

The robin’s song (Perkins) 60004 10531 Vocalion, USA 1922-12

Theme and Variations (Proch) A-0214 9260 Vocalion, USA 1922?

Traviata (Verdi) Ah, fors’è lui 52001, 70011 Vocalion, USA 1920

Voci di primavera (Strauss) 52005 6495 Vocalion, USA 1920?

Where the bee sucks (Arne) E494 (3-3230) Bb11631-3 HMV, London 1927-11-25

Zauberflöte (Mozart) O zittre nicht D1035 (03864) Cc6697-1 HMV, London 1925-09-15