Ellabelle Davis

Ellabelle Davis (17 March 1907 — 15 November 1960) was an American singer who began her musical career at The Town Hall in 1942. As an opera singer, Davis was the first African-American to play the lead role of Aida during her 1946 performance at the Opera Nacional in Mexico. She resumed her role as Aida at La Scala in 1949 and recorded for Decca in February 1950. Posthumously, an opera based on Davis was performed in 2009 and she was inducted into the New Rochelle Walk of Fame in 2011.

Early life and education

On 17 March 1907, Davis was born in New Rochelle, New York. Growing up, Davis was a choir singer and performed recitals together with her pianist sister.[1] For her education, Davis was tutored by Reina LeZar and William Patterson.[2]

Career

Davis began her career as a seamstress for a dressmaker in Westchester County, New York. After singing an aria from the opera Louise while she was working, Davis received a financial offer to pay for her music lessons from her customer Louise Crane. As a singer, Davis was a member of a 1941 opera held at the Museum of Modern Art.[3] Performing solo, Davis's first concert was at The Town Hall in 1942. During a 1946 performance in Mexico, Davis became the first African-American to sing at the Opera Nacional when she played the role of Aida.[2][4] She returned to the role of Aida in a 1949 edition at La Scala. Other countries that Davis performed at during her career include Finland and Israel.[5] Outside of her tours, Davis recorded songs for Decca in February 1950. She began singing compositions by Franz Schubert and Richard Strauss at West Hampstead Studios before performing sopranos from Don Carlos and La Wally at Kingsway Hall.[6][7]

Death

On 15 November 1960, Davis died from cancer in New Rochelle.[8]

Honors

A 2009 opera based on Davis, titled The Gentle Lark of New Rochelle, was performed in New Rochelle.[9] In 2011, Davis was posthumously inducted into the New Rochelle Walk of Fame.[10]

References
  1. Southern, Eileen (1982). "Davis, Ellabelle". Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians. Greenwood Press. p. 94. ISBN 0313213399.
  2. Nettles, Darryl Glenn (2003). African American Concert Singers Before 1950. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 51. ISBN 0786414677. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  3. "Celeste Aida". Time. Vol. 48 no. 5. 29 July 1946. p. 45.
  4. Finger, Mary E. (20 July 1946). "By Way of Mention". New York Age. p. 4.
  5. Southern 1982 pp. 94–95
  6. "Search results for Ellabelle Davis, soprano, Hubert Greenslade, piano". Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  7. "Search results for Ellabelle Davis, soprano". Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  8. Nettles 2003, p. 53
  9. Lombroso, Linda (13 March 2009). "The Gentle Lark". The Journal News. p. 1D.
  10. Woyton, Michael (13 November 2011). "Walk of Fame Highlights New Rochelle History". Patch Media. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
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