Marguerite D’Alvarez (1886-1953)
Printemps qui commence
Samson et Dalila
by Camille Saint-Saëns
Although of Peruvian parentage, mezzo-soprano Marguerite D’Alvarez was born in England. She studied in Brussels and made her operatic debut at Rouen as Dalila in 1907 or 1908. In 1909 she joined Hammerstein’s Manhattan Opera Company, first appearing as Fides in Le prophète. With the Boston Opera Company in 1913 she made a strong impression as the Mother in Wolf-Ferrari’s I gioielli della Madonna, and at Covent Garden in 1914 her Amneris in Aida won acclaim for the power, rich quality and ease of her singing. She appeared as Carmen at La Scala and as Leonor in La favorite at Marseilles. After 1918 she sang principally in concerts, specializing in French and Spanish song, and gave her last London recital in 1939. She appeared in the film Pandora and the Flying Dutchman and wrote a colourful autobiography Forsaken Altars (London, 1954), published also as All the Bright Dreams (New York, 1956). Her recordings show an exceptionally rich and well-produced voice but are too few to do justice to her wide repertory. (J.B. Steane)
This selection came from a Victor Orthophonic (electric) recording made sometime between 1925 and 1929.
