Blanche Marchesi (Soprano) (Paris, France 1863 - London, England 1940)

She was the daughter of the distinguished Italian baritone and teacher Salvatore Marchesi de Castrorie (1822-1908) and the famous German mezzo-soprano and pedagogue Mathilde (née Graumann) Marchesi de Castrone (1821-1913). After studying violin, she turned to vocal training with her mother.  She began her career singing in private and charity concerts in Paris, and then appeared in Berlin and Brussels in 1895. On June 19, 1896, she made her London debut in a concert and made England her home. In 1900 she made her operatic debut as Brünnhilde in Die Walkure in Prague, and then returned to England to sing with the Moody-Manners Company. In 1902 she appeared at London's Covent Garden as Elisabeth, Elsa, and Isolde. For the most part, however, she pursued a career on the concert stage. Later she was also active as a teacher. She made her farewell concert appearance in 1938. She published memoir A Singer’s Pilgrimage (London, 1923), and the didactic volume The Singer’s Catechism (London, 1932).

Chronology of some appearances

1900 Prag Deutschen Theater Walküre (Brünnhilde)
1902 London Covent Garden Tannhäuser (Elisabeth)
1902 London Covent Garden Lohengrin (Elsa)
1902 London Covent Garden Tristan und Isolde (Isolde)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Berlin 1906
In Mai (Goldschmidt) 43754 4136h

HMV, London 1936
Dido and Aeneas (Purcell): When I am laid in eath JH9 TTP853

HMV, London 1937-12-21
Hercules (Händel): My father! JG41 TPX5376
Der heilige Josef singt (Wolf); La lettre (Moret) JG41 TPX5377