Helen Jepson - Hollis Dann Song Series PT 1

piano by Myrtle Eaver


Miss Jepson was born in Titusville, Pa., in 1904 and grew up in Akron, Ohio, where she studied voice and sang leading roles in high school productions of ''I Pagliacci'' and ''H.M.S. Pinafore.'' Using the money she saved from jobs in a church choir and at a record store, where she also listened closely to recordings by Rosa Ponselle and other stars of the day, she moved to Philadelphia to continue her studies at the Curtis Institute. While still a student, she sang with the Philadelphia Civic Opera, and organized a student troupe that spent a summer performing in small towns across the country. She made her debut with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company in 1930.

Ms. Jepson's attractive lyric soprano, preserved on recordings of excerpts from Verdi's ''Otello,'' and her radiant good looks -- she had blond hair and dark eyes -- made her a favorite of opera fans who wanted to see an American soprano sing beside the more prominent European stars of the day.

songs: Comin Thro the Rye, Ring The Bells, Greeting to Spring, A Valentine, The Holly and the Ivy

Category:

Music

Tags:

• opera
• classical
• Jepson
• soprano
• piano
• 78rpm

[alainwilliam]

Helen Jepson sings Desdemona with Giovanni Martinelli and Lawrence Tibett on a may 1939 recording of Verdi Othello

[pax41]

How old would Martinelli been at that time?

[meltzerboy]

Lovely lyric soprano voice and excellent technique. Jepson could indeed sing other things beautifully besides Desdemona! Thank you for posting.

[pax41]

My pleasure and will be posting the other side shortly. I thought some of these songs were fitting for the holiday season.

[ginnykaren]

I really enjoyed this ! Thank you!

[pax41]

A pleasure as always to have you grace my channel!

[ciroalb3]

@pax41 officially 54 (born 1885), but some thought he shaved a few years off the bio.

[alainwilliam]

MARTINELLI was born in 1885 so he was 54 In 1939

[ginnykaren]

Thank you!

[tukilala]

Bellisima Voz !!!!!!