Elyda Russell Barker (5 September 1872 – 17 June 1949), born Eliza Alison Russell, was an Australian mezzo-soprano singer based in Paris and London for much of her career. She was a student of Mathilde Marchesi.
Elyda Russell | |
|---|---|
 Elyda Russell, from a 1908 publication | |
| Born | Eliza Alison Russell 5 September 1872 Sydney, NSW |
| Died | 17 June 1949 Perth, Western Australia |
| Other names | Eliza Alison Barker (married name) |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Relatives | Peter Nicol Russell (uncle) |
Early life and education
editRussell was born in Sydney, New South Wales,[1] the daughter of George Russell and Ellen Alison Russell. Her father co-owned an engineering firm with his brother, University of Sydney benefactor Peter Nicol Russell.[2][3] She played piano, and studied violin in Dresden in her youth, before training as a singer in Italy, and with Mathilde Marchesi in Paris.[4] She was considered a "favorite pupil" of Marchesi's, and was one of the "principal mourners" at Marchesi's funeral.[5]
Career
edit
Russell sang in many European cities, and for royal audiences.[4][6][7] She made her London debut recital at Bechstein Hall in 1903,[1] prompting the Sydney Morning Herald to report that "It is a long time since any debutante has received such unanimously favourable notices from the London dailies."[2] She sang again at Bechstein Hall in 1906,[8] and she performed at The Proms in London in 1908.[9] "Miss Russell's voice is a full mezzo soprano," noted a 1906 report, "and she sings in many languages."[10] Mark Twain heard her sing in Paris in 1904.[11] She toured in Scandinavia in 1908, and sang five concerts in Berlin.[12] Her friend, Swedish sculptor Ida Matton, made a portrait bust of Russell, now in the collection of the Länsmuseet Gävleborg.[13]
Personal life
editRussell traveled in Italy with Ida Matton in 1904.[14] She married Harold E. W. Barker in 1919.[15] She died in 1949, aged 76 years, in Perth.[16] Her grave is in Karrakatta Cemetery.
References
edit- ^ a b "Miss Elyda Russell; A Clever Sydney Girl Who Sings in London and on the Continent". Sunday Sun. 17 February 1907. p. 9. Retrieved 25 October 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ a b "Music and Drama". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 May 1903. p. 7. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ Morrison, Leonard Allison. The history of the Alison or Allison family in Europe and America, : A D 1135 to 1893 (Damrell and Upham 1893): 36.
- ^ a b "Paris" The Musical Courier (September 15, 1908): 16.
- ^ "Personal Notes from London". Daily Telegraph. 24 December 1913. p. 18. Retrieved 25 October 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Berlin". The Musical Courier. 57: 5. 28 October 1908.
- ^ "Music". Sydney Mail. 8 September 1909. p. 46. Retrieved 24 October 2021 – via Google News.
- ^ "Miss Elyda Russell's Concert". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 22 December 1906. p. 2. Retrieved 25 October 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Performers - Proms 1908 - BBC". BBC Music Events. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Australians in England". Sydney Morning Herald. 28 December 1906. p. 3. Retrieved 25 October 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "MUSICAL NOTES". Express and Telegraph. 17 December 1904. p. 2. Retrieved 25 October 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Music". Palladium-Item. 24 January 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 25 October 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Skulptur av Ida Matton, "Elyda Russell"". Länsmuseet Gävleborg. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ VisbyStar (24 May 2021). "Portrait Study". Swedish Museum. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Woman's World". Daily News. 27 February 1931. p. 2. Retrieved 25 October 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Family Notices". Daily Telegraph. 25 June 1949. p. 21. Retrieved 25 October 2021 – via Trove.