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Louise Homer (April 30, 1871May 6, 1947) was an American operatic contralto who had an active international career in concert halls and opera houses from 1895 until her retirement in 1932. After a brief stint as a vaudeville entertainer in New England, she made her professional opera debut in France in 1898. She then became a member of the Metropolitan Opera from 1900 to 1919 and again from 1927 to 1929.〔〔 She was also active as an opera singer in Boston, Chicago, and California. She recorded extensively for Victor Records and Columbia Records in the early decades of the 20th century. She was married to composer Sidney Homer for 52 years, and composer Samuel Barber was her nephew. Homer sang a broad repertoire which encompassed works from the French, German, and Italian repertoires. She enjoyed particular success in the operas of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. She often stated in interviews that her favorite role to perform was Amneris in Verdi's ''Aida''. At the Met she sang in several United States premieres and created roles in two world premieres: the witch in Engelbert Humperdinck's ''Königskinder'' and the title role in Horatio Parker's ''Mona''.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Louise Homer )〕 Soprano Nellie Melba once hailed her as "the world's most beautiful voice".〔Cantabile Subito〕 In 1923 and 1924 she was listed as one of the 12 greatest living women by the National League of Women Voters.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Louise Homer, Native Of City, Dies At 76 )〕 ==Early Life and career== Homer was born Louise Dilworth Beatty in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 30, 1871. Her father, Reverend William Trimble Beatty, was a Presbyterian minister who founded Pennsylvania Female College (now Chatham University). Her father initially expressed concerns over his daughter's desired singing career for religious reasons, believing that such gifts were meant solely for worship within the church. However, Louise was eventually able to convince her father that she could employ her vocal gifts outside of the church without being in sin, at which point she was given permission to pursue a musical education. She began her vocal training in Philadelphia, but ultimately ended up in Boston.〔 In Boston Homer met composer Sidney Homer whom she married in 1895. They remained married until her death more than five decades later and had six children together, including authors Joy Homer and Anne Homer. Just months before her marriage, Homer made her stage debut in January 1895 in a vaudeville production at Keith's Opera House in Providence, Rhode Island.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Graham Sundat Night Concert )〕 The following February she appeared at the Bijou Opera House in Boston in the vaudeville show ''Our Uncle Dudley'' in a cast which also included Broadway star Marie Cahill and silent film actor and director Frank Currier.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Bijou Opera House: Our Uncle Dudley )〕 While further honing her craft, she spent the next few years performing periodically at functions organized by members of the elite society of Boston. In 1898 Homer went to France to pursue studies in Paris with Fidèle König and Paul Lhérie.〔 She made her professional operatic debut as Léonore in Donizetti's ''La favorite'' at Vichy in 1898. The following year she performed at the Royal Opera House in London before going to Brussels where she was engaged at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie for eight months.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Louise Homer」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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