Opera's Golden Age In Postcards

ADA CROSSLEY (3 May 1871-17 October1929) Australian Contralto Studied Melbourne with Fanny Simonsen , First stage appearance 1889 in Melbourne concert . Went to London for further study with Sir Charles Santley and in Paris with mathilde Marchesi. Concert and Oratorio singer never appeared in opera

ADA CROSSLEY (3 May 1871-17 October1929) Australian Contralto Studied Melbourne with Fanny Simonsen , First stage appearance 1889 in Melbourne concert . Went to London for further study with Sir Charles Santley and in Paris with mathilde Marchesi. Concert and Oratorio singer never appeared in opera

ADA CROSSLEY (3 May 1871-17 October1929) Australian Contralto Studied Melbourne with Fanny Simonsen , First stage appearance 1889 in Melbourne concert . Went to London for further study with Sir Charles Santley and in Paris with mathilde Marchesi. Concert and Oratorio singer never appeared in opera

ARMIDA PARSI-PETTINELLA 1868-1944 Italian Contralto Debut at Teatro Costanzi 1892 as Azucena 'Il Trovatore". At La Scala, in 1895 as Anna Bolena "Henri VIII." Saint-Saëns, and also sang Delilah "Samson and Delilah" Saint-Saëns, ,Gertrude "Amleto" She repeated her Delilah at the lirico Barcelona in 1897 .She appeared in the premiere of 'Gugliemo Ratcliff" by Mascagni . Between 1897-1901 she visited South America , Lisbon , Trieste,Odessa and Madrid adding to her repertory Leonora 'Favorita" ,Laura,Amneris,Ortrud,Mignon,Fricka , Fides , Carmen . In 1903 she was back at La Scala as Ulrica in Verdi's "Masked Ball" . Her final appearance at La Scala was 1910 as Dalilah.She retired from the stage after a performance as Dame Quickly 'Falstaff" at Reggio Turin in 1911

JOHN BROWNLEE 1900-1969 Australian Baritone He entered a singing contest in Ballarat, winning first prize even though he had never had a lesson. Several singing engagements followed. One of these, a performance of Messiah, was attended by Nellie Melba, who convinced him to go to Paris for serious study with Dinh Gilly. His debut took place at Covent Garden on 8 June 1926, in the performance of " La bohème " in which Melba made her farewell appearance. That autumn he was engaged by the Paris Opera, the first time a British subject had been made a permanent member of that company; his Paris debut was in Thaïs in 1927.On 17 February 1937, he appeared for the first time at the Metropolitan Opera. The opera was Rigoletto. Besides making important appearances elsewhere, Brownlee remained a regular at Covent Garden, the Paris Opera, and the Met, making his last performance there in March 1957. Brownlee's greatest successes were in the Mozart repertory, particularly at the Glyndebourne Festival. He was also acclaimed in Salome and Pelléas et Mélisande. After retiring from singing, Brownlee became a stage director, making his debut at the Met on 27 November 1958 during a performance of Die Fledermaus

EDGAR SCHOFIELD 1889-1961 American Bass-Baritone Studied with Frank Rogers Morse Wemple at the New England Conservatory Boston and The Royal Academy of Music London .He toured with the Quinlin Opera Company as a soloist . He made 3 concert tours of 64 cities with the famous soprano Geraldine Farrar.Performed in concert at Carnegie Hall and Aeolian Hall New York.He also appeared with the New York Philamonic and Cleveland Symphony and appeared at the Worcester festival .After his retirement he opened a studio in Berkeley NY and taught voice at his Berkshire Music Centre and at the Goldovsky Opera School in Lenox. one of students was the American tenor, John McCollum (b 1922) Dedicated to his voice teacher Frank Rogers Morse Wemple (1878-1970), who was a baritone and voice professor at the New England Conservatory of Music Boston

PETER DAWSON 1882-1961 Australian Bass-Baritone His first singing lessons were from C J Stevens .In 1901 he won a singing competition in Ballarat . He went to London to study with Sir Charles Santley who sent him firstly to F Bamford in Glasgow for 6 months for training and coaching in vocal exercises, arias, oratorio pieces and classical songs. He then continued his studies with Santley from 1903-1907 who gave him a thorough understanding in voice production and understanding oratorio.In 1904 he toured with Santley and Albani.His only operatic appearance was at Royal Opera Covent Garden in 1909 as The Night Watchman "Miestersingers of Nuremburg".In 1909-1910 he toured Australia with the Australian soprano Amy Castles.His last public performance was in Adelaide in 1961. He gained world-wide recognition through his song recitals and recordings of opera aria's , orotorio and ballads.His career spanned nearly 60 years

Franz Naval as Des Grieux 'Manon" Massenet FRANZ NAVAL (Franz Pogacnik) 1865-1939 German Tenor Studied Laibach with Nedred and Vienna with Gansbacher.Debut 1888 at Frankfurt In 'Martha" Flowtow . From 1895-1898 he was a member of the Berlin Hofoper.Sang Rodolfo 'La Boheme" Puccini in Berlin 1897.Sang in Paris 1900-1903 , Metropolitan New York 1903 , He returned to Berlin Hofoper and was a permanent member again 1903-1908 Sang at Covent Garden London 1907 . He sang for 20years and retired and taught singing in Vienna , His roles included Jose 'Carmen" Bizet , Turiddu "Cavalleria Rusticana" Mascagni , Romeo "romeo & Juliette" Gounod .

FRANZ NAVAL (Franz Pogacnik) 1865-1939 German Tenor Studied Laibach with Nedred and Vienna with Gansbacher.Debut 1888 at Frankfurt In 'Martha" Flowtow . From 1895-1898 he was a member of the Berlin Hofoper.Sang Rodolfo 'La Boheme" Puccini in Berlin 1897.Sang in Paris 1900-1903 , Metropolitan New York 1903 , He returned to Berlin Hofoper and was a permanent member again 1903-1908 Sang at Covent Garden London 1907 . He sang for 20years and retired and taught singing in Vienna , His roles included Jose 'Carmen" Bizet , Turiddu "Cavalleria Rusticana" Mascagni , Romeo "Romeo & Juliette" Gounod .

WALTHER GUNTHER BRAUN 1874-1947 German Tenor Studied with Torleff in Leipzig and Wolff in Frankfurt .Debut 1896 at Corrbus and sang in operetta until 1901.His grand opera debut was in 1901 at Mainz.Sang in the premeiere of 'Kjartan und Gudrun" Von Klenau as Haldor in 1918. at Mannheim. He concentrated on the Wagner repertory , But other roles included Florenstan 'Fidelio" Beethovan , Huon 'oberon" Weber ,Samson 'Samson et Delilah" Saint Seans , Jose 'Carman" Bizet'

ANTONIO SCOTTI (25 January 1866 – 26 February 1936) Italian Baritone Antonio Scotti was born in Naples, Italy. His family wanted him to enter the priesthood but he embarked instead on a career in opera. He received his early vocal training from Esther Trifari-Paganini and Vincenzo Lombardi. According to most sources, he made his debut at Malta's Theatre Royal in 1889, performing the role of Amonasro in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida. Engagements at various Italian operatic venues ensued and he later gained valuable stage experience singing in Spain, Portugal, Russia and South America. In 1898, he debuted at Italy's most renowned opera house, La Scala, Milan, as Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger. This now seems a surprising choice of role for Scotti because his subsequent career did not encompass the operas of Richard Wagner. Scotti's American debut took place in the fall (autumn) of 1899, when he sang in Chicago. On 27 December 1899 he made his first appearance in New York City at the Metropolitan Opera, undertaking the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni. He would become an audience favorite at the Met, earning acclaim for his graceful singing of Donizetti's bel canto music as well as for the touch of elegance that he brought to his more forceful Verdi and verismo interpretations. Scotti appeared at Covent Garden in London for the first time in 1899, singing Don Giovanni. He would return to London on many occasions prior to World War I. At the Met in 1901, Scotti became the first artist to sing the role of Baron Scarpia in Giacomo Puccini's Tosca in America. He appeared, too, in the American premieres of Francesco Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur, Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari's Le donne curiose, Umberto Giordano's Fedora, Franco Leoni's L'Oracolo and Isidore de Lara's Messaline. Scotti also sang a variety of mainstream baritone parts during his time at the Met, including Rigoletto, Malatesta, Belcore, Iago, Falstaff, Marcello, Sharpless and, as we have seen, Don Giovanni and Scarpia. He performed opposite his close friend Enrico Caruso when the illustrious tenor made his Met debut as the Duke of Mantua in 1903, and partnered 15 different Toscas over the course of his long career at the house. In 1912, Scotti's arrival in the United States with Pasquale Amato and William Hinshaw for his next Met season received extensive newspaper coverage He performed at Covent Garden on a regular basis until 1910, with additional appearances in the 1913–1914 season. During this period, he became not only London's first Scarpia but also its first Sharpless in Puccini's Madama Butterfly (in 1900 and 1905 respectively). In 1917, he was elected an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the American fraternity for male musicians, at the New England Conservatory of Music. He formed his own troupe of singers in 1919, calling it, naturally enough, the Scotti Opera Company. He managed it for several seasons while touring the United States. Scotti celebrated his 25th anniversary with the Met on 1 January 1924 in a gala performance of Tosca. By the 1930s, Scotti's voice had declined considerably but he retained his place on the Met's roster of singers due to his outstanding histrionic ability. His final Met appearance occurred on 20 January 1933, when he sang Chim-Fen in L'Oracolo; he had created the role in 1905. Scotti returned to Italy to spend his retirement. He died in poverty in Naples in 1936, aged 70

Scotti as Scarpia '"Tosca" Puccini ANTONIO SCOTTI (25 January 1866 – 26 February 1936) Italian Baritone Antonio Scotti was born in Naples, Italy. His family wanted him to enter the priesthood but he embarked instead on a career in opera. He received his early vocal training from Esther Trifari-Paganini and Vincenzo Lombardi. According to most sources, he made his debut at Malta's Theatre Royal in 1889, performing the role of Amonasro in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida. Engagements at various Italian operatic venues ensued and he later gained valuable stage experience singing in Spain, Portugal, Russia and South America. In 1898, he debuted at Italy's most renowned opera house, La Scala, Milan, as Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger. This now seems a surprising choice of role for Scotti because his subsequent career did not encompass the operas of Richard Wagner. Scotti's American debut took place in the fall (autumn) of 1899, when he sang in Chicago. On 27 December 1899 he made his first appearance in New York City at the Metropolitan Opera, undertaking the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni. He would become an audience favorite at the Met, earning acclaim for his graceful singing of Donizetti's bel canto music as well as for the touch of elegance that he brought to his more forceful Verdi and verismo interpretations. Scotti appeared at Covent Garden in London for the first time in 1899, singing Don Giovanni. He would return to London on many occasions prior to World War I. At the Met in 1901, Scotti became the first artist to sing the role of Baron Scarpia in Giacomo Puccini's Tosca in America. He appeared, too, in the American premieres of Francesco Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur, Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari's Le donne curiose, Umberto Giordano's Fedora, Franco Leoni's L'Oracolo and Isidore de Lara's Messaline. Scotti also sang a variety of mainstream baritone parts during his time at the Met, including Rigoletto, Malatesta, Belcore, Iago, Falstaff, Marcello, Sharpless and, as we have seen, Don Giovanni and Scarpia. He performed opposite his close friend Enrico Caruso when the illustrious tenor made his Met debut as the Duke of Mantua in 1903, and partnered 15 different Toscas over the course of his long career at the house. In 1912, Scotti's arrival in the United States with Pasquale Amato and William Hinshaw for his next Met season received extensive newspaper coverage He performed at Covent Garden on a regular basis until 1910, with additional appearances in the 1913–1914 season. During this period, he became not only London's first Scarpia but also its first Sharpless in Puccini's Madama Butterfly (in 1900 and 1905 respectively). In 1917, he was elected an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the American fraternity for male musicians, at the New England Conservatory of Music. He formed his own troupe of singers in 1919, calling it, naturally enough, the Scotti Opera Company. He managed it for several seasons while touring the United States. Scotti celebrated his 25th anniversary with the Met on 1 January 1924 in a gala performance of Tosca. By the 1930s, Scotti's voice had declined considerably but he retained his place on the Met's roster of singers due to his outstanding histrionic ability. His final Met appearance occurred on 20 January 1933, when he sang Chim-Fen in L'Oracolo; he had created the role in 1905. Scotti returned to Italy to spend his retirement. He died in poverty in Naples in 1936, aged 70

GENEVIEVE VIX 1879-1939 French Soprano Studied at the Nantes Conservatoire and then at the Paris Conservatoire as a pupil of Lhérie.Debut at the Palais Garnier 1905 in the title role in the premiere of Daria by Georges Marty.Debut at the Opéra-Comique on 1906 as Louise. Created Concepción in L'heure espagnole in 1911 and Francesca in Francesca da Rimini (Leoni) in 1913 .Appearances in Madrid, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio da Janeiro, Havana, Chicago, New York, Boston, Rome, Cairo and Constantinople

Vix as Margeurite 'Faust" Gounod GENEVIEVE VIX 1879-1939 French Soprano Studied at the Nantes Conservatoire and then at the Paris Conservatoire as a pupil of Lhérie.Debut at the Palais Garnier 1905 in the title role in the premiere of Daria by Georges Marty.Debut at the Opéra-Comique on 1906 as Louise. Created Concepción in L'heure espagnole in 1911 and Francesca in Francesca da Rimini (Leoni) in 1913 .Appearances in Madrid, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio da Janeiro, Havana, Chicago, New York, Boston, Rome, Cairo and Constantinople

Vix as Margeurite 'Faust" Gounod GENEVIEVE VIX 1879-1939 French Soprano Studied at the Nantes Conservatoire and then at the Paris Conservatoire as a pupil of Lhérie.Debut at the Palais Garnier 1905 in the title role in the premiere of Daria by Georges Marty.Debut at the Opéra-Comique on 1906 as Louise. Created Concepción in L'heure espagnole in 1911 and Francesca in Francesca da Rimini (Leoni) in 1913 .Appearances in Madrid, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio da Janeiro, Havana, Chicago, New York, Boston, Rome, Cairo and Constantinople

Vix as 'Thais" Massenet GENEVIEVE VIX 1879-1939 French Soprano Studied at the Nantes Conservatoire and then at the Paris Conservatoire as a pupil of Lhérie.Debut at the Palais Garnier 1905 in the title role in the premiere of Daria by Georges Marty.Debut at the Opéra-Comique on 1906 as Louise. Created Concepción in L'heure espagnole in 1911 and Francesca in Francesca da Rimini (Leoni) in 1913 .Appearances in Madrid, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio da Janeiro, Havana, Chicago, New York, Boston, Rome, Cairo and Constantinople

Vix as Carmen" Bizet GENEVIEVE VIX 1879-1939 French Soprano Studied at the Nantes Conservatoire and then at the Paris Conservatoire as a pupil of Lhérie.Debut at the Palais Garnier 1905 in the title role in the premiere of Daria by Georges Marty.Debut at the Opéra-Comique on 1906 as Louise. Created Concepción in L'heure espagnole in 1911 and Francesca in Francesca da Rimini (Leoni) in 1913 .Appearances in Madrid, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio da Janeiro, Havana, Chicago, New York, Boston, Rome, Cairo and Constantinople

GENEVIEVE VIX 1879-1939 French Soprano Studied at the Nantes Conservatoire and then at the Paris Conservatoire as a pupil of Lhérie.Debut at the Palais Garnier 1905 in the title role in the premiere of Daria by Georges Marty.Debut at the Opéra-Comique on 1906 as Louise. Created Concepción in L'heure espagnole in 1911 and Francesca in Francesca da Rimini (Leoni) in 1913 .Appearances in Madrid, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio da Janeiro, Havana, Chicago, New York, Boston, Rome, Cairo and Constantinople