Mario Chamlee (Tenor) (Los Angeles, California 1892 - Los Angeles, California 1966)

His real name was Archer Cholmondeley. He began a scientific study at the South California University, then studied singing under Achille Alberti in Los Angeles. He made his debut in 1916 in Los Angeles as  Edgardo in ''Lucia di Lammermoor''. After a renewed study with Sibella and Dellera in New York followed in 1917 a tour with the Aborn Opera Company and he led the name Mario Rodolfi. His partner was - under the name Francesca Milena - the soprano Ruth Miller (1892-1983), whom he married in 1919. From 1917-19 he was a soldier in the First World War. Returned to the USA, he sang in the 1919-20 season with the Scotti Opera Company. In 1920 he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York (beginning role: Cavaradossi in ''Tosca''). He was active in the 1920-21 season and from 1927-28 in this opera house; during this time he also sang in San Francisco (1927 and 1931) and in the 1921-31 seasons annually at the Ravinia Summer Opera in Chicago. In the 1928-36 seasons he appeared in Europe, namely above all at the Opéra-Comique of Paris, but also in Brussels, Lüttich, Lille, Bordeaux, Nice, at the Vienna People's Opera and at the German Theatre in Prague. In 1933 he performed at the Chicago Opera. In the 1936-39 seasons Chamlee again appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Now here he hsang in the première of the opera ''Caponsacchi'' of R. Hageman (1937) and in G. Menotti's ''Amelia goes to the ball'' (1938). In 1940 he retired from the stage. Then he worked, together with his wife, as a pedagogue in Los Angeles.

Chronology of some appearances

Il duca di Mantova 6/5/1920, B. F. Pinkerton 4/4/1922, 12/12/1922, Il duca di Mantova 2/6/1923, Uin-San-Lui 11/27/1923, Rodolfo 2/26/1924, B. F. Pinkerton 1/13/1925, Il duca di Mantova 6/5/1926, B. F. Pinkerton 3/8/1927, Hoffmann 2/14/1928, Jeník 12/22/1936, L’amante 3/3/1938, 3/8/1938, 1/11/1939 (in Filadelfia)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Brunswick, New York 1920-07?
Santa Lucia (trad) J2033 A62570

Brunswick, New York 1920-12?
Thank God for a garden (del Riego) 10026 4755

Brunswick, New York 1921-05?
O sole mio (di Capua) J2032 A62570

Brunswick, New York 1922-10?
L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra (Tosti) 50020 X9091

Brunswick, New York 1923-01?
Manon (Massenet): La rêve 15040 9604

Brunswick, New York 1923-02-15 
Elisir d'amore (Donizetti): Una furtiva lagrima 50030 X9929

Brunswick, New York 1923-04-24
Call me no more  10111 10466
Your voice 10111 10469

Brunswick, New York 1923-12-24
Dreams dimly lying (Pallidi sogni) (Roxas) 10115 12176
The last hour (Kramer) 10115 12179

Brunswick, New York 1924-03-05
Trovatore (Verdi): Mal reggendo with Onegin 15093 12636

Brunswick, New York 1924-07-29
Serenade (Drigo) 10121  13639

Brunswick, New York 1925-02-06
Hosanna! (Granier) 30110 X14841

Brunswick, New York 1926-02-09
Fra Diavolo (Auber): On yonder rock reclining 10227 E17917

Brunswick, New York 1928-03-27
Absent (w. male trio: A Campbell, J Meyer & H Moeller) 15162 E27156

Brunswick, New York 1928-03-30
Mignon (Thomas): Adieu, Mignon  50141 XE27223

Brunswick, New York 1928-05-15 

Forza del destino (Verdi): Solenne in quest'ora with Bonelli 50142 XE27552-B
Martha (Flotow): Solo profugo (w. Bonelli) 50142 XE27553-B

Brunswick, New York 1928-10-08
Traviata (Verdi): Parigi o cara with Easton 50157 XE28459-B

Faust (Gounod): Laisse-moi with Easton  50157 XE28460-B

Brunswick, New York 1928-10-19
Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Com'è gentil 15194 E28483-B