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Louise Homer

Louise Beatty Homer (April 30, 1871 – May 6, 1947) was an American operatic dramatic contralto who had an active international career in concert halls and opera houses from 1895 until her retirement in 1932.

After a brief stint as a vaudeville entertainer in New England, she made her professional opera debut in France in 1898. She then became a member of the Metropolitan Opera from 1900 to 1919 and again from 1927 to 1929. She was also active as an opera singer in Boston, Chicago, and California. She recorded extensively for Victor Records and Columbia Records in the early decades of the 20th century. She was married to composer Sidney Homer for 52 years. The composer Samuel Barber was her nephew.

Homer sang a broad repertoire which encompassed works from the French, German, and Italian repertoires. She enjoyed particular success in the operas of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. She often stated in interviews that her favorite role to perform was Amneris in Verdi's Aida. At the Met she sang in several United States premieres and created roles in two world premieres: the witch in Engelbert Humperdinck's Königskinder and the title role in Horatio Parker's Mona. Soprano Nellie Melba once hailed her as "the world's most beautiful voice". In 1923 and 1924 she was listed as one of the 12 greatest living women by the National League of Women Voters.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 30, 1871 (Pittsburgh), Died May 6, 1947 (Winter Park)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1903 - 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: contralto

Notes: Wife of composer Sidney Homer. Their daughter Louise Homer Stires also made recordings.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 193 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-3863 12-in. 10/9/1906 Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with cello and orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-3864 12-in. 10/9/1906 Oh rest in the Lord Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-3865 10-in. 10/9/1906 Le parlate d'amor Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-3865 12-in. 10/24/1906 Le parlate d'amor Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-3873 12-in. 10/12/1906 Quando a te lieta Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-3873 10-in. 10/11/1909 Quando a te lieta Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-3874 12-in. 10/12/1906 Voce di donna Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-3875 12-in. 10/12/1906 Nobil signori, salute! Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-3876 12-in. 10/12/1906 Esser mesto il mio cor Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-3934 12-in. 10/24/1906 Acerba volutta Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-4259 12-in. 2/20/1907 Quartet : Bella figlia dell' amore Bessie Abott ; Enrico Caruso ; Louise Homer ; Antonio Scotti Vocal quartet (soprano, contralto, tenor, and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-4260 12-in. 2/20/1907 Duet of the flowers Geraldine Farrar ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-4516 12-in. 5/21/1907 The lost chord Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-4517 10-in. 5/21/1907 Les filles de Cadiz Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-4518 12-in. 5/21/1907 Mesta ognor Bessie Abott ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-4534 10-in. 5/28/1907 At parting Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-6036 12-in. 3/17/1908 Ai nostri monti Enrico Caruso ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (contralto and tenor), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-6037 12-in. 3/17/1908 Old black Joe Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-6037 10-in. 5/27/1914 Old black Joe Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-6038 12-in. 3/17/1908 Fac ut portem Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-6039 12-in. 3/17/1908 Babylon Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-6040 12-in. 3/17/1908 Caro mio ben Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-6209 12-in. 5/20/1908 Dôme épais Emma Eames ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with piano vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-6225 12-in. 5/25/1908 Dôme épais le jasmin Emma Eames ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-6226 12-in. 5/25/1908 Du Aermste Emma Eames ; Louise Homer ; Victor Orchestra Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
(Results 26-50 of 193 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Homer, Louise," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101986.

Homer, Louise. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101986.

"Homer, Louise." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101986

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