Sonia Essin

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Sonia Essin
Born(1901-09-24)September 24, 1901
Chernihiv, Russian Empire
DiedAugust 7, 1981(1981-08-07) (aged 79)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
CitizenshipAmerican
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Singer, educator

Sonia Essin (born September 24, 1901, in Chernihiv;[1] died August 7, 1981, in Los Angeles)[2] was a Jewish-American contralto and educator who had an international career in operatic and classical music. She began her career in Europe before beginning a career in the United States on radio in the 1930s. Later in life she focused on vocal teaching.

Biography[edit]

Essin was born in Chernihiv on September 24, 1901.[1][3] Her family arrived in New York on December 20, 1903.[1] She grew up in the Cleveland area.[4]

Essin was a member of the choir at both B'nai Jeshurun and the Free Synagogue in Manhattan.[3] She graduated from both the Mannes School of Music and Juilliard.[5] She went to Europe, and gave her debut as a soloist in the Netherlands.[6] She spent some years there and in Germany performing in opera productions at Deutsche Oper am Rhein and Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden and in solo concerts, but was back in the United States by 1932.[5][7][8] Essin was a soloist in the early 1930s with "The Walter Damrosch Symphony Hour" program on NBC Radio.[8] Her solo performance debut in New York took place November 8, 1933, at the Town Hall.[9] She was on the staff at NBC as a soloist and had hew own weekly radio series which ended in 1936.[5][10] She subsequently continued her broadcasting career on other stations such as WQXR[11]

In 1943 she was engaged by the Handel and Haydn Society to solo in that year's presentation of Messiah.[6] She was heard singing Wagnerian material by Arturo Toscannini, and at his invitation Essin made her debut at La Scala in 1948, performing the role of Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde. At the time she considered it the highlight of her career.[12]

She joined the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music faculty in September 1953, where in addition to her vocal coaching she continued to give recitals.[5][13] She remained on the faculty for six years.[4] Later in life she moved to Los Angeles.[4]

Reviews[edit]

Essin was declared by the Hartford Courant to have a "true" contralto voice, with a "rich and warm texture".[7] In a similar vein, Arthur Darak of the Cincinnati Enquirer called her a "bona-fide" contralto, espousing her the expression, intelligence, and warmth of her voice which he stated overcame the limited variety in repertoire.[14]

Personal life[edit]

Essin was married to David Simmonds, and spoke Yiddish fluently.[3]

Discography[edit]

  • The Art of Sonia Essin - Orion Master Recordings ORS 77271
  • Felix Mendelssohn - His Story And His Music - Vox MM 3530
  • Franz Schubert: His Story And His Music - Vox MM 3540
  • Johannes Brahms: His Story And His Music - Vox MM 3580

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "New York, U.S., State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794–1943: Naturalization Petition: Sonia Helen Essin" (Document). Washington, DC: The National Archives. 1928-03-02.
  2. ^ California Death Index, 1940–1997. Sacramento, CA, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.
  3. ^ a b c Frank, M. Z. (April 9, 1948). "New York". The Jewish Post. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 11 – via Hossier State Chronicles.
  4. ^ a b c The Art of Sonia Essen (LP record liner notes). Malibu, California: Orion Master Recordings. 1977. ORS 77271.
  5. ^ a b c d "Sonia Essin Joins School". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. June 7, 1953. p. 53 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b "Music and Musicians: Sonia Essin Contralto, Soloist in "Messiah"". Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. December 5, 1943. p. 7 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Chorus Gives Concert in Hall School". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. January 4, 1933. p. 10 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Record Radio Programs". Record-Journal. Meriden, Connecticut. April 9, 1932. p. 9 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Youthful Contralto to Give Recital at N.J.C. Tonight". The Central New Jersey Home News. New Brunswick, New Jersey. October 27, 1933. p. 26 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Coming Events" (PDF). Radio Guide. Vol. 5, no. 41. Regal Press, Inc. August 1, 1936. p. 27.
  11. ^ "Louis-Farr Fight Will Be Broadcast By 4 Stations Tonight". The Morning Post. Camden, New Jersey. August 30, 1937. p. 13 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Clevelander to Debut in Italy". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. March 21, 1948. p. 53 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Sonia Essin to give Cincinnati Recital". The Journal Herald. Dayton, Ohio. January 14, 1956. p. 10 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Darak, Arthur (November 17, 1953). "Words and Music". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 13 – via newspapers.com.
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