Description

MARGUERITE D’ALVAREZ (LIVERPOOL, 1886 or 1884 – ALASSIO, 18 OCTOBER, 1953)

She studied in Brussels and made her operatic debut in Rouen around 1907 or 1908, performing the role of Delilah in Samson et Dalila. In 1909, she joined Oscar Hammerstein’s Manhattan Opera Company in New York, making a notable impression as Fidès in Meyerbeer’s Le Prophète.

Her career continued to flourish, and in 1913, she was part of the Boston Opera Company, where she garnered attention for her portrayal of the Mother in Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s I Gioielli della Madonna. The following year, in 1914, her powerful and richly resonant performance as Amneris in Verdi’s Aida at Covent Garden received significant acclaim.

She also performed major roles at prestigious European opera houses, including Carmen at La Scala and Léonor in La favorite at the Marseille Opera. After 1918, she transitioned away from opera to focus primarily on concert performances, particularly excelling in French and Spanish song, which she continued until her final London recital in 1939.

In her later years, she appeared in the 1951 film Pandora and The Flying Dutchman and authored a vibrant autobiography titled Forsaken Altars, published in London in 1954, and later as All the Bright Dreams in New York in 1956. Although her recordings are limited, they reflect the extraordinary richness and production of her voice, though they do not fully capture the breadth of her repertoire.

TRACKLIST

1. Trovatore (Verdi) Ai nostri monti with Marguerite D’Alvarez 52011 Vocalion, New York 1921-04
2. Carmen (Bizet) Habanera A-0200 5151 Vocalion, New York 1920
3. Do not go, my love (Hageman) DA721 Bb6312 HMV, Hayes 1925-07-13
4. Homing (del Riego) DA721 Bb6335 HMV, Hayes 1925-07-17
5. Mira la bien (Pedrell) 30143 7348 Vocalion, New York 1921-04
6. Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix DA1000 Bb14356 HMV, Hayes 1928-09-14
7. Carmen (Bizet) Près des remparts de Séville DA1000 Bb14357 HMV, Hayes 1928-09-14
8. Silent Night (Gruber) C-01054 7619 Vocalion, New York 1921-06
9. Homing (del Riego) 30121 7030 Vocalion, New York 1921-02
10. Carmen (Bizet) Seguidilla 30124 7116 Vocalion, New York 1921-04
11. Do not go, my love (Hageman) 1116 BVE32581 Victrola, New York 1925-05-05
12. Homing (del Riego) 1116 BVE31748 Victrola, New York 1925-05-05
13. Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Printemps qui commence 6590 CVE34500 Victor, Camden NJ 1926-04-23
14. Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix 6590 CVE34299 Victor, Camden NJ 1926-04-23
15. Carmen (Bizet) L’amour est un oiseau rebelle DB1353 Cc14355 HMV, Hayes 1928-09-14
16. Mi pobre reja (Tabuyo) DA830 Bb9313 HMV, Hayes 1926-10-14