Mary Kaestner | |
|---|---|
 Mary Kaestner as Aïda, from a 1917 publication | |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Mary Kastner, Mary Peroni |
| Occupation | Opera singer |
| Years active | 1914–1917 |
| Known for | Three seasons with the San Carlo Opera Company |
| Spouse | Carlo Peroni |
Mary Kaestner (died after March 1944), also seen as Mary Kastner, was an opera singer, a dramatic soprano with the San Carlo Opera Company.
Mary Kaestner was American, from Wisconsin [1] or California, [2] though she was sometimes described as Viennese or German. [3] [4]
Kaestner was singing in Vienna when World War I began, and she returned to the United States. [5] She toured North America with the San Carlo Opera Company for three seasons, [6] from 1914 [7] to 1917, [2] singing leading roles in Aïda , [8] Cavalleria rusticana , [9] Lohengrin, Pagliacci, Tosca , Faust , Il trovatore , [10] and La Gioconda . [11] [12] [13] "Mary Kaestner is one of those artists who has proved at eacch appearance that certainty and poise are her assets," commented a reviewer in 1917. "Besides her dramatic voice of unusual beauty, her acting is brilliant and brainy." [14]
In 1917, Mary Kaestner married Italian opera conductor Carlo Peroni, [1] and retired from her stage career, saying "one famous person in a family is enough." [15] She survived as his widow when Peroni died in 1944. [16] [17]
Mary Violet Leontyne Price is an American soprano who was the first African American soprano to receive international acclaim. From 1961 she began a long association with the Metropolitan Opera, where she was the first African American to be a leading performer. She regularly appeared at the world's major opera houses, including the Royal Opera House, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and La Scala; at La Scala, she was also the first African American to sing a leading role. She was particularly renowned for her performances of the title role in Verdi's Aida.
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Elinor Ross was an American opera singer, a dramatic soprano particularly associated with the Italian repertory. She made an international career, appearing regularly at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and at major opera houses in Europe and the Americas, in roles such as Puccini's Tosca and Turandot.
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Claude Elwood Albright Roberts was an American opera singer, generally classified as a mezzo-soprano. She grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico Territory, and was recognized as New Mexico's most famous singer during the early 20th century. She performed with various opera companies during her career, most notably the Carl Rosa Opera Company in the United Kingdom.
Bianca Scacciati was an Italian operatic soprano, noted for her prominence in verismo.
