Julia Claussen

Julia Claussen (11 June 1879 – 1 May 1941) was a Swedish mezzo-soprano.

Julia Claussen
Born11 June 1879
Stockholm
Died1 May 1941 (1941-06) (aged 61)
Stockholm
OccupationSinger

Early life and education

Claussen was born on 11 June 1879 in Stockholm, Sweden.[1] She was educated at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in that city; she also studied at the Royal Academy in Berlin.[2]

Career

Claussen made her debut in La favorita in Stockholm on 19 January 1903, and remained with the Royal Swedish Opera for nine seasons. She sang at Covent Garden and in Paris, and appeared as Ortrud in Lohengrin in Chicago in 1913.[3] She sang in Portland, Oregon in 1914, under the management of Alma Voedisch.[4] She made several recordings in 1915.[5] In 1916, she sang on the Chautauqua circuit, giving 119 recitals in twelve states.[6][7] She toured in Scandinavia in 1920,[8] was decorated by the King of Sweden,[9] and gave a recital at New York's Aeolian Hall on her return to the United States.[10][11] She gave a recital at Carnegie Hall in 1922.[12]

Claussen made her Metropolitan Opera debut, as Delilah, on 23 November 1917. She was usually seen in Wagnerian roles, including Brunnhilde in Die Walküre, and Kundry in Parsifal, both in 1922.[13] Fellow singer Rosa Ponselle also considered her Italian opera roles impressive, saying Claussen was "the ideal Amneris."[14] Claussen remained with the Metropolitan Opera until her retirement in 1932, whereupon she returned to Stockholm. She also sang with the Philadelphia Civic Opera Company in the 1920s. She was vice-president of the National Opera Club of America.[3]

In 1929, singer Lydia Lindgren sued Claussen for $250,000 for defamation.[15] The suit was later dropped.[16]

Personal life

Claussen married Theodore Claussen in 1902,[15][1] and had two daughters.[8] The Claussen family were all naturalized as United States citizens in 1920.[17] Julia Claussen died in Stockholm in 1941, aged 62 years.[18]

References
  1. Leonard, John William; Marquis, Albert Nelson (1914). Who's who in America. A.N. Marquis. p. 455.
  2. "Julia Claussen - Modern Roads to Vocal Success". The Etude. April 1921. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  3. "Julia Claussen's Popularity Knows No Bounds". Musical Courier. 85: 57. December 21, 1922.
  4. "Julia Claussen Appreciated in Portland". Musical Courier. 69: 35. November 18, 1914.
  5. "Julia Claussen (vocalist : mezzo-soprano)". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  6. Wright, Farnsworth (October 7, 1916). "Sang 119 Concerts in Four Months and a Half". Musical America. 24: 12.
  7. "Julia Claussen Sings in Many Foreign Languages". The Greenville News. 1916-04-30. p. 12. Retrieved 2020-06-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Julia Claussen Finds New Spirit in Post-War Music". Musical America. 31: 9. March 20, 1920.
  9. "King Decorates Julia Claussen". Reno Gazette-Journal. 1926-11-22. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-06-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Julia Claussen Returns from Triumphant Tour of Native Land". Musical America. 31: 5. March 6, 1920.
  11. "Julia Claussen in a Glorious Recital". Musical America. 31: 30. March 27, 1920.
  12. "Julia Claussen to Give New York Recital". Musical Courier. 85: 18. October 19, 1922.
  13. "Julia Claussen Scores in Wagnerian Opera". Musical Courier. 85: 45. July 27, 1922.
  14. Drake, James A. (1997). Rosa Ponselle: A Centenary Biography. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 109. ISBN 978-1-57467-019-6.
  15. "JULIA CLAUSSEN FACES $250,000 SLANDER SUIT; Lydia Lindgren, Former Opera Singer, Starts Action Against Metropolitan Contralto". The New York Times. 1929-03-30. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  16. Tighe, Dixie (1931-09-30). "Testimony in Kahn Suit Develops into Controversy of Women Songbird Spats". The Standard Union. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  17. "The Claussens Now Citizens". Musical Courier. 81: 19. July 8, 1920.
  18. "Julia Claussen, 62; Ex-Opera Singer". The New York Times. May 3, 1941. p. 15 – via ProQuest.
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