Her real name was Margret Banks. First she
studied singing under her mother, then at the Milan Conservatory. In 1908 she made her debut at the Teatro Politeama of
Genova as Marguerite in ‘’Faust’’ of C. Gounod. In 1910 she sang in operettas in
France, then trained under Jean de Reszke in Paris. As assistant artist she
traveled together with Enrico Caruso, Pasquale Amato and Friedrich Kreisler during
their tours by all over the world. Temporarily she accompanied famous dancer
Isadora Duncan during her tours. She came back again to North America and became
here a popular operetta soprano. In 1918 she was engaged by the Chicago Civil
Opera, where she appeared till 1922, among other things as Micaela in ‘’Carmen’’,
Olga in ‘’Fedora’’, Thaïs and Mimi in ‘’La Bohème’’. She made guest appearances
at the Opera of New Orleans. In the 1923-1925 seasons she sang at the
Opéra-Comique in Paris the parts of Mimi, Tosca, Thaïs and Violetta. With
Manuel de Falla she studied Spanish, with Albert Wolff the French repertoire.
In 1927 she was to be heard in America once more as an operetta diva and now
came out also as an actress. Also she was active in sound films (‘’Stolen moments’’
with Rudolph Valentino, ‘’Peter Ibbetson’’ with Gary Cooper). In the 1940-1943 seasons
she sang operettas at the New York Broadway; in 1944 she appeared in recital at
the New York Carnegie Hall. As a painter she took part several times in
exhibitions in America.
Chronology of some appearances
1908 Genova Teatro Politeama Faust (Marguerite)
1918-1922 Chicago Civil Opera
1923-1925 Paris Opéra-Comique
RECORDING FOR SALE
Private recording
Gismonda (Fevrier): Toute blanche
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