Re: Recording Artisi Isa Kremer.

[Joel Bresler <jbresler...>]

Hi, Judy.

Thanks for reminding me of the excellent "Stars of David" CD ROM. Its 
(text) entry on Kremer reads like so:

Kremer, Isa
1885-1956 Soprano Russia
Isa Kremer was born in Betzi, Bessarabia in 1885, but at the age of 17 she 
left for Italy, where she studied voice in Milan. Four years later, while 
still in Italy, she made her debut as Mimi in La Boheme. She then sang in 
Odessa and among her roles were Tatiana in Eugene Onegin and the title role 
in Madama Butterfly. In 1916, at the height of her success, she abandoned 
opera for the concert field. Her concert debut in Moscow made her 
celebrated all over Russia. She left Russia in 1919, sang in many European 
capitals, and came to America in 1922, where she long enjoyed a successful 
career, being billed as the "International Ballad Singer". Her final 
concert in the U.S. was at Carnegie Hall on 3 December 1950. In 1940 she 
married an Argentinian psychiatrist, Dr. Giorgio Bermann, and spent most of 
her last years in Buenos Aires, where she died in 1956. Possessed of a 
voice of no more than ordinary range and volume, she brought much 
vividness, realism, and charm to her interpretations, and was known for her 
ability to sing in many languages as if a native. One need only listen to 
her Marechiare to realize what an artist she was.

Best,

Joel

At 11:25 AM 9/22/99 -0400, you wrote:
>Joel:
>I have two articles, a performance review and an interview in my office
>files (from 1924, Canadian Jewish Chronicle) on Isa Kremer and there are
>some ref books beyond Baker's here which you are welcome to look at which
>have some biographical info. Let me know if you plan to come by the
>library. Didn't someone recently release a CDROM on the Jewish opera stars
>that has this information? Judy.
>At 03:06 PM 9/21/99 -0400, you wrote:
> >Dear Friends:
> >
> >If anyone can provide details on Jewish recording artist Isa Kremer
> >(1887-1956), particularly her 2-year stint (ca. 1918-1920) in
> >Constantinople where she recorded for Orfeon, can you please let me know?
> >I'm familiar with entries in Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians
> >and also an article ("Remembering Isa Kremer") written by Lois Barr. Thanks!
> >
> >Joel



Joel Bresler
250 E. Emerson Rd.
Lexington, MA 02420 USA

Home:           781-862-2432
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Email:          jbresler (at) ma(dot)ultranet(dot)com

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