The Sembrich Interval
Periodically, The Sembrich publishes brief articles pertaining to Marcella Sembrich’s life, career, and legacy. Each article contains links for further exploration. Sign up for our mailing list to receive Sembrich Intervals.
The Fascinating Odyssey of a Sembrich Record Cylinder
Sometime around 1900, Marcella Sembrich stood before the recording horn of Gianni Bettini and gave her rendition of Johann Strauss, Jr’s. “Voci di Primavera.” Lieutenant Bettini (1860-1938), as he was usually referred to, was the son of prominent tenor Geremia Bettini and the nephew of impresario Max Maretzek. He was also a prolific inventor…
Signor Puccini Finds “The Mimi”
In 1907, Puccini attended a performance of his own La bohème starring Mme. Sembrich. After the performance, she received a special note from Puccini declaring…
Sembrich & The Giannini Siblings
We made an interesting connection when researching the 1927 song “Tell Me, Oh Blue, Blue Sky,” composed by Vittorio Giannini and dedicated to Mme. Sembrich.
Reviving Verdi's "Ernani"
“She [Sembrich] reigned right splendidly, and all the others in the cast were but humble followers of her courtly train. She overtopped them all…”
Coloring in the Past
Because Mme. Sembrich’s career occurred before commercial color photography, all photographs of the great soprano are black & white. To fill in details, we rely on renderings…
A Promising Young Cellist
In the summer of 1912, Frank LaForge, longtime accompanist of Mme. Sembrich, brought to the great soprano’s attention cellist Guita Casini…
Sembrich Retires from Opera
On this day, 113 years ago, Madame Sembrich announced her retirement from the Metropolitan Opera Company with whom she spent the majority of her American…
The Soprano from Hawaii
Among the handful of students who studied with Sembrich is Hawaiian soprano Ululani Robertson. In 1921, she travelled over 5,000 miles to meet the famed Mme. Sembrich…
The Meeting Behind The Portrait
In 1923, a chance meeting between Sembrich and renowned illustrator Haskell Coffin resulted in a new pastel portrait of Sembrich on the cover of the New York Times magazine…
Bay View in Color
A unique view Bay View before Sembrich’s purchase of the lakeside estate. Bay View underwent many transformations while Sembrich lived on Lake George…
A Gift from Abroise Thomas
During the summer of 1881, Marcella Sembrich travelled to Paris to study with composer Ambroise Thomas. Following her departure, Thomas was so impressed that he sent…
Sembrich’s Love of Folksongs
Following her retirement from opera in 1909, she spent nearly a decade touring across the United States and popularized the addition of folksongs on her concert programs…
Mezzo-Soprano Marian Anderson
In the early stages of her career, mezzo-soprano Marian Anderson was recommended for coaching with Sembrich’s longtime accompanist Frank LaForge…
The 1907 Salome Scandal
The 1907 premiere of Strauss’ Salome, is perhaps one of the most infamous events in operatic history. While not part of the case, Sembrich helped open the evening…
Sembrich Sings Hahn
Among the many recordings made by Marcella Sembrich for the Victor Talking Machine Company, this performance of Reynaldo Hahn's "Si mes vers…
The Metropolitan’s Premiere
In the fall of 188, Mme. Sembrich set sail for a new opportunity with the fledgling Metropolitan Opera Company. On October 24, 1883, at the Met's second performance…