Lucille Marcel (Soprano) (New York 1877 - Wien 1921)

Her real name was Lucille Wasself. She studied first in North America, then under Jean de Reszke in Paris. She debuted quite unexpectedly in 1908 at the Vienna Court Opera as Elektra in the Richard Strauss's opera of the same name. She was promoted by the manager at that time of the Vienna Court Opera Felix von Weingartner (1863-1942), whom she married in 1911 (in third from a total of five marriages). In 1912 she joined to the Municipal Theatre of Hamburg. Her USA debut came about in February, 1911 at the Boston Opera in ''Tosca''. She remained active till 1914 in this opera house, where she took over the title role in 1913 in the American première of the opera ''Djamileh'' of Bizet. In 1914 she made guest appearance at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées inParis as Desdemona in Verdi's ''Otello'' and as Eva in the ''Meistersingers''. When Felix von Weingartner went in 1914 to the Court Theatre of Darmstadt, she supposed an engagement in this house where she appeared only once. She sang on 17. 5. 1914 in the Darmstadt Court Theatre in the premiere of the opera of her husband ''Cain and Abel''. In 1919 she performed in Vienna CourtTheatre, where she died two years later at the age of 44. Her repertoire included roles like Tosca, Aida, Desdemona in ''Otello'' of Verdi, Marguerite in ''Faust'' of Gounod and Eva in the ''Meistersingers''.

Chronology of some appearances

1908 Vienna Court Opera
1911-1914  Boston Opera
1912 Hamburg Municipal Theatre
1914 Paris Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
1914 Darmstadt Court Theatre
1919 Vienna Court Opera

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, New York 1913-02-19
Otello (Verdi): Ave Maria A5482 36608

Columbia, New York 1913-02-20
Thou art a child (von Weingartner) A5482 36622