Carolina White

Carolina White (May 23, 1886 – October 5, 1961) was an American operatic soprano who had an active performance career during the first three decades of the 20th century. After beginning her career as a concert soprano in Boston in 1905, she went to Europe where she established herself as a leading soprano in Italy and Switzerland, beginning at the Teatro di San Carlo in 1908. After appearing in major opera houses like La Scala and La Fenice, White left Europe in 1910 to join the roster of artists at the Chicago Grand Opera Company where she was a leading soprano through 1914. After this she was active primarily as a concert soprano up through 1922. She made several recordings for Columbia Records during the second decade of the 20th century.

In addition to her work as a soprano, White had a brief career as an actress, appearing opposite Enrico Caruso in the silent film My Cousin (1918). Today she is best remembered for performing leading roles in the United States premieres of several operas; including the American premieres of Wolf-Ferrari's Il segreto di Susanna in 1911 and I gioielli della Madonna in 1912, and Leoncavallo's Zingari in 1913. She was also one of the first performers to portray Minnie in Puccini's La fanciulla del West; performing that role shortly after its world premiere in New York in 1910 for that opera's first performances in the cities of Chicago (1910), Milwaukee (1910), and Boston (1911). White was critically successful in many roles. She was particularly admired for her portrayal of the title role in Verdi's Aida.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 23, 1886 (Boston), Died October 5, 1961 (Rome)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1910 - 1917

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal

Notes: Sometimes listed as Carolina Longone White.

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

Recordings (Results 26-43 of 43 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 36940 12-in. ca. 1914 Pretty Polly Oliver Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 36941 12-in. ca. 1914 L'ultima canzone Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 49036 12-in. 12/21/1916 Memories Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 49039 12-in. 12/22/1916 Roses in June Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 49044 12-in. 12/28/1916 Down in that valley fair Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia 49045 12-in. 12/28/1916 Mary of Argyle Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 167 Not documented approximately Aug. 1910 O patria mia Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 176 12-in. approximately Aug. 1910 Ebben? Ne andro lontana Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 178 12-in. 7/20/1910 La mamma morta Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 181 12-in. Aug. 1910 Suicidio Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 182 12-in. between 7/19/1910 and 7/22/1910 Aida and Amneris Eleanora de Cisneros ; Carolina White Vocal duet (soprano and mezzo-soprano), with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 183 12-in. 7/18/1910 Ho fatto in triste sogno Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 219 Not documented approximately July 1910 Cavatina Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 220 12-in. 7/18/1910 Un bel di, vedremo Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 221 12-in. 7/20/1910 Voi lo sapete Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 222 12-in. approximately July 1910 L'altra notte in fondo al mare Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 239 12-in. approximately Aug. 1910 Ritorna vincitor Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 269 12-in. approximately Sept. 1910 Egli e bel Carolina White Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
(Results 26-43 of 43 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "White, Carolina," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116808.

White, Carolina. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116808.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/116808

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