Elsa Stralia (Soprano) (Adelaide, South Australia 1880 - Melbourne, Australia 1945)

She was the daughter of the German baritone Hugo Fischer, who emigrated to Australia. First she received her education by her father, then at the Albert Street Conservatory in Melbourne under Elise Wiedermann and then perfected her vocal technique with the conductor and impresario Gustav Slapoffski in Sydney. First she sang in concerts under the name Elsa Adela in Australia. In 1910 she gave under this name also in London some concerts. Then she went to Italy and became a pupil of Falchi in Milan. In Italy she made her debut, now under the name Elsa Stralia, at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa. In 1913 she sang at the Covent Garden in London the part of Donna Elvira in ‘’Don Giovanni’’. The next year she appeared there as Elsa in ‘’Lohengrin’’, Elisabeth in ‘’Tannhäuser’’, Leonora in ‘’Trovatore’’, Amelia in ‘’Ballo in maschera’’ and Santuzza in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’. During the First World War she gave many concerts in England and Ireland and sang the part of Aida with great success at the Drury Lane Theatre in London under sir Thomas Beecham. In 1920 she appeared at the Concerts Lamoureux in Paris. Vast concert tours led her through England, North America and Australia. In 1929 she undertook a big USA tour. In 1933 she married during a New Zealand tour to Adolphe Christensen and then lived from 1933 to 1943 in Auckland. During her last years she came back to Melbourne, where she was active in the educational area. 

Chronology of some appearances

1912 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice 

1913 London Covent Garden

1914 London Covent Garden

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, London 1915/1916?

Faust (Gounod): Jewel song (It) 7195 6855

Semiramide (Rossini): Bel raggio 7193 6630

Goodbye (Tosti) 7119 6651

Columbia, London 1917/1918?

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Voi lo sapete 7196

Columbia, London 1920-05-05

Aida (Verdi): Nile Duet, pt 1 with Frank Mullings 7248 74063

Aida (Verdi): pt 2  with Frank Mullings 7249 74064 

Tannhäuser (Wagner): Elisabeth's greeting 7243 74067

Oberon (Weber): Ocean thou mighty monster 7259 74274

Columbia, London 1920-05-16

Carmen (Bizet): My Mother I Behold (Mia madre vedo ancor) with Frank Mullings 7258 74106