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Creator
Ponselle, Rosa, 1897-1981
Call number
*L (Special) 89-50
Physical description
371 items
Preferred Citation

Rosa Ponselle Collection, *L(Special) 89.50, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

The collection contains commercial and noncommercial sound recordings and noncommercial films and videos collected by Rosa Ponselle from 1926 to 1981, covering her career and retirement; recordings of memorial tributes to Ponselle were added to the collection from 1982 to 1987.

Biographical/historical information

Rosa Ponselle (1897-1981) was a noted American soprano, whose voice was famed for its opulent tone, breadth of range and interpretative warmth. She began studying music with her mother, an amateur singer. She and her sister, Carmela sang together under their real name, Ponzillo, in vaudeville shows in Pittsburgh and New York.

Her manager and voice teacher, William Thorner, introduced her to Caruso who arranged for her audition at the Metropolitan Opera. Her debut with the Metropolitan Opera was on Nov. 15, 1918, in the role of Leonora in La Forza del Destino, opposite Caruso. She was instantly successful, and her career took off from there. She went on to sing a variety of Italian opera roles at the Metropolitan.

Her last performance with the Metropolitan Opera was on Feb. 15, 1937 as Carmen. During her career, she sang 22 roles, performing 356 times with the Metropolitan Opera in New York and on tour. After retiring, she became active in social affairs.

Scope and arrangement

The collection consists of 371 noncommercial sound recordings consisting of tapes, discs, test pressings, and videos collected by Rosa Ponselle from 1926 to 1981, covering her career and retirement. The bulk of these recordings were made from 1926 to 1954, and primarily contain performances by Ponselle of opera excerpts, Lieder, and American songs. Several noncommercial recordings feature mezzo-soprano Carmela Ponselle (elder sister of Rosa Ponselle). Also included in the collection are recordings of memorial tributes to Ponselle which were added to the collection from 1982 to 1987.

The films are primarily silent "home movies" of family social events, including travels and sports. The known dates of these films range from 1935 to 1945. Most of the videorecordings in the collection are copies of the films; these copies were made sometime prior to receipt of the collection by the repository.

Additional videorecordings include a 1977 television interview with Ponselle in celebration of her 80th birthday, and a "90th Birthday" memorial tribute .

The Rosa Ponselle collection of performances, recorded interviews, and films are arranged in seven series:

  • Series I: Rosa Ponselle performances.
  • Series II: Performances by others,.
    1905-1982

    This series includes performances by artists other than Rosa Ponselle and Carmela Ponselle.

  • Series IV: Unidentified performer(s),.
    1936-1982

    This series includes recordings for which no performer has been named or identified. It is therefore possible that recordings of Rosa Ponselle may be identified in this series.

  • Series V: Interviews,,.
    1977

    This series includes interviews with Rosa Ponselle. Only one item in this series is attributed to a specific date.

  • Series VI: Carmela Ponselle performances.
  • Series VII: Films/video recordings,.
    1935-1977

    The films are primarily silent "home movies" of family social events, including travels and sports. The known dates of these films range from 1935 to 1945. Most of the videorecordings in the collection are copies of the films; these copies were made sometime prior to receipt of the collection by the repository. Additional videorecordings include a 1977 television interview with Ponselle in celebration of he 80th birthday, and a "90th Birthday" memorial tribute.

  • Series VIII: Other items,.
    1934-1982

    This series includes primarily spoken word sound recordings, as well as other items which are out of the scope of the other established series.

Administrative information

Processing information

Processed by David H. Thomas and Peggy Schein.

Using the collection

Location

Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound.

Access restrictions

Access to original items is restricted.