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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 51-75 of 193 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-6227 10-in. 5/25/1908 Vengeance at last Emilio de Gogorza ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (contralto and baritone), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-6680 12-in. 12/19/1908 Perigliarti ancor languente from Il trovatore Enrico Caruso ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (contralto and tenor), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-6682 12-in. 12/19/1908 Mal reggendo all'aspro assalto Enrico Caruso ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (contralto and tenor), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-7032 12-in. 5/1/1909 Quis est homo Johanna Gadski ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-7033 12-in. 5/1/1909 Aïda : Scene and duet Johanna Gadski ; Louise Homer ; Victor Orchestra Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-7034 12-in. 5/1/1909 Aïda : Scene and duet Johanna Gadski ; Louise Homer ; Victor Orchestra Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-8293 12-in. 10/11/1909 Die Lorelei Louise Homer ; Victor Orchestra Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-8294 10-in. 10/11/1909 Sapphische ode Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-8295 12-in. 10/11/1909 Amour, viens aider Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-8296 12-in. 10/12/1909 Die Allmacht Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-8609 12-in. 2/7/1910 Su e con me vieni cara Johanna Gadski ; Louise Homer ; Victor Orchestra Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-8610 12-in. 2/7/1910 Che fiero momento Johanna Gadski ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-8611 12-in. 2/7/1910 Che farò senza Euridice Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-9748 12-in. 12/29/1910 Gia i sacerdoti Enrico Caruso ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (contralto and tenor), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-9749 12-in. 12/29/1910 Aida a me togliesti Enrico Caruso ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (contralto and tenor), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-9909 10-in. 2/6/1911 A banjo song Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor BVE-9909 10-in. 11/23/1925 A banjo song Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-9911 12-in. 2/6/1911 Divinités du Styx Louise Homer ; Victor Orchestra Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-9912 12-in. 2/6/1911 There is a green hill far away Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-9913 10-in. 2/6/1911 Last night Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-11866 10-in. 4/12/1912 Whispering hope Alma Gluck ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-11867 12-in. 4/12/1912 Quis est homo Alma Gluck ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-11868 12-in. 4/12/1912 I waited for the Lord Alma Gluck ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-11869 10-in. 4/12/1912 Oh, that we two were maying Alma Gluck ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-11870 10-in. 4/12/1912 The dog lies in his kennel Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
(Results 51-75 of 193 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Homer, Louise," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101986.

Homer, Louise. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101986.

"Homer, Louise." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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