Leonora Sparkes

Leonora Sparkes (1883-?) was the British mezzo-soprano for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in the 1910s.[1]

Biography

She was born in 1883 in England. Dippel heard her sing at Covent Garden and after a private concert offered her a contract at the Metropolitan Opera in 1908.[2]

She appeared in the American premiere of Boris Godunov at the Metropolitan Opera as Tsarevna Xenia Borisovna of Russia on March 19, 1913 with Arturo Toscanini conducting.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Leonora Sparkes's Recital". New York Times. January 16, 1920. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60B1EF7385E15738DDDAF0994D9405B808EF1D3. Retrieved 2011-03-09. "Miss Leonora Sparkes, whose name appears often on the bills of the Metro politan Opera House, and seldom on the program of song recitals, gave a recital yesterday afternoon in Aeolian Hall that had many features of interest, and gave ..." 
  2. ^ Henry Charles Lahee (1912). The grand opera singers of to-day: an account of the leading operatic stars. http://books.google.com/books?pg=PA278&dq=%22Leonora%20Sparkes%22%20opera&ei=6Fp5TaibGc-10QHA64TcAw&ct=result&id=_F45AAAAIAAJ&output=text. "Leonora Sparkes was a well known concert and opera singer in England. Dippel heard her at Covent Garden and after a private hearing offered her a contract at the Metropolitan Opera-House in 1908. She has been a member of the company ever since." 
  3. ^ "American Premiere of 'Boris Godounoff' Wednesday". New York Times. March 12, 1913. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50911FF345E13738DDDAB0994DB405B838DF1D3. Retrieved 2011-03-09. "Boris Godounoff, the Russian opera by Moussorgsky, will be the feature of next week's repertoire at the Metropolitan Opera House, where it will have its first American hearing on Wednesday evening. It will be conducted by Mr. Toscanini, and the cast will include Madames Homer, Case, Sparkes, Maubourg, and Duchene, and Messrs. Didur, Althouse, Rothier, Reiss, Bada, De Segurola, Rossi, Audisi, Reschiglian, and Kreidler."