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Florence Easton

Florence Easton (25 October 1882 – 13 August 1955) was an English dramatic soprano of the early 20th century. She was one of the most versatile singers of all time, appearing in more than 100 roles, covering a wide range of styles and periods, from Mozart, Meyerbeer, Gounod, Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, Strauss, Schreker and Krenek. She sang virtually every Wagnerian soprano part, large and small, from Senta in Der Fliegende Holländer onwards, including Brünnhilde in Götterdämmerung.

Easton described herself as a "lyric dramatic soprano", which seems barely adequate in relation to the range and types of roles in which she excelled. Her international reputation, founded mainly in North America and Germany, was almost unique for a British singer of her time. She could move easily through all stages from the light coloratura to the Hochdramatische, from girlish romanticism to the powerful drama of Wagner and Strauss. The voice could be light and airy, gently melancholic or intensely passionate. The involvement in the character of the role was total. John Steane has suggested that "This great strength of hers was also, in a strange way, a source of weakness. She sang so many roles very well that she never quite became identified with any of these". Despite some minor difficulty with Italian diction, she was chosen by Puccini to create Lauretta in his 1917 opera Gianni Schicchi.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 25, 1882 (Middlesbrough), Died August 13, 1955 (Montreal)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1921 - 1934

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal, vocalist

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

Recordings (Results 51-72 of 72 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick E16767-E16769 10-in. 10/26/1925 Holy night Florence Easton Female vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E16770-E16771 10-in. 10/26/1925 Silent night Florence Easton Female vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E18931-E18932 10-in. 4/27/1926 I’se gwine back to Dixie Florence Easton Female vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E18933-E18935 10-in. 4/27/1926 Little old log cabin in the lane Florence Easton Female vocal solo and male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E24945-E24947 10-in. 10/27/1927 Silent night Florence Easton Female vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Brunswick E24948-E24949 10-in. 10/27/1927 Holy night Florence Easton Female vocal solo and male vocal trio, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 18778 10-in. 10/3/1928 Voi lo sapete, O Mamma Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 18779 10-in. 10/3/1928 Mi chiamano Mimì Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 18798 10-in. 10/10/1928 Il est doux, il est bon Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 18799 10-in. 10/10/1928 Un bel dì, vedremo Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 18828 10-in. 10/24/1928 Elsa's Traum Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 18829 10-in. 10/24/1928 Elisabeth's Gebet Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison N-478 12-in. 10/3/1928 Voi lo sapete, O Mamma Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison N-479 12-in. 10/3/1928 Mi chiamano Mimì Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison N-495 12-in. 10/10/1928 Il est doux, il est bon Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison N-496 12-in. 10/10/1928 Un bel dì, vedremo Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison N-524 12-in. 10/24/1928 Elsa's Traum Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison N-525 12-in. 10/24/1928 Elisabeth's Gebet Florence Easton Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Gramophone 0B5557 10-in. 1/18/1934 My mother bids me bind my hair Florence Easton ; Gerald Moore Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Gramophone 0B5559 10-in. 1/18/1934 Ich bin eine Harfe Florence Easton ; Gerald Moore Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Gramophone 0B5560 10-in. 1/18/1934 Alle Dinge haben Sprache Florence Easton ; Gerald Moore Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Gramophone 0B5562 10-in. 1/18/1934 My laddie Florence Easton ; Gerald Moore Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
(Results 51-72 of 72 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Easton, Florence," accessed May 10, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103628.

Easton, Florence. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103628.

"Easton, Florence." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 10 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103628

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