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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 126-150 of 193 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-20331 10-in. 7/10/1917 The star spangled banner Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with mixed vocal quartet and orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-20332 10-in. 7/10/1917 The star spangled banner Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-22575 12-in. 2/10/1919 Je viens célébrer la victoire Enrico Caruso ; Louise Homer ; Marcel Journet Vocal trio (contralto, tenor, and bass), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-22627 12-in. 3/17/1919 Printemps qui commence Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with piano and orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-22628 10-in. 3/17/1919 When the roses bloom Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-22629 12-in. 3/17/1919 O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-22630 10-in. 3/18/1919 Oh, boys, carry me 'long Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-22631 10-in. 3/18/1919 Hard times, come again no more Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-22632 10-in. 3/18/1919 I love to tell the story Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with male vocal quartet and orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-23974 10-in. 4/29/1920 Last night Louise Homer ; Louise Homer Stires Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-23975 10-in. 4/29/1920 Banjo song, op. 22, no. 4 Louise Homer ; Louise Homer Stires Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-23976 10-in. 4/29/1920 Go, pretty rose Louise Homer ; Louise Homer Stires Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-23977 12-in. 4/29/1920 Quis est homo Louise Homer ; Louise Homer Stires Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-23979 10-in. 4/30/1920 Oh morning land Louise Homer ; Louise Homer Stires Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-23980 12-in. 4/30/1920 My sweet repose Louise Homer ; Louise Homer Stires Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-25326 10-in. 6/1/1921 My ain folk Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-25327 10-in. 6/1/1921 Just for to-day Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-25328 12-in. 6/3/1921 But the Lord is mindful of his own Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor C-25329 12-in. 6/3/1921 Mother Goose songs Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-25330 10-in. 6/4/1921 The auld Scotch sangs Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-26430 10-in. 4/25/1922 Hark! the herald angels sing Louise Homer ; Louise Homer Stires Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-26432 10-in. 4/26/1922 The lane to Ballybree Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-26433 10-in. 4/25/1922 Venetian song Louise Homer ; Louise Homer Stires Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with harp and orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-26434 10-in. 4/25/1922 My ain countrie Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
Victor B-26435 10-in. 4/26/1922 Christ the Lord is risen today Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, contralto  
(Results 126-150 of 193 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Homer, Louise," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101986.

Homer, Louise. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101986.

"Homer, Louise." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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