Eva Didur (born 1896), also known as Ewa Didur, was a Polish dramatic soprano singer.
Early life edit
Eva Didur was born in Poland,[1] the daughter of Polish singer Adamo Didur and his first wife, Mexican singer Angela Aranda Arellano. Her younger sisters were Mary Didur-Załuska (1905-1979) and Olga Didur-Wiktorowa (1900-1963), who were also professional singers.[2] Eva Didur studied voice with William Thorner[3] and Gina Ciaparelli-Viafora.[4]
Career edit
Didur had her concert debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1918,[5] a concert in which she "exhibited a fine, powerful powerful soprano and decided dramatic temperament."[6][7] She sang at the Hippodrome with her father in December 1918.[8] She went on to Italy in 1919,[9] where she sang the part of Mimi in La bohème in Milan.[10] She was engaged to sing in Trieste during the 1919-1920 opera season.[11][12] In 1921 she was back in Milan to sing the part of Marguerite in Mefistofele, under the direction of her godfather, Arturo Toscanini.[13]
Didur sang at many benefit events during World War I. In 1917 she performed at a concert with pianists Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Zygmunt Stojowski for the Polish Victims War Relief Fund.[14] She performed with her father at a benefit for the Russian Relief Fund at Carnegie Hall,[15] and at another benefit for the Polish Army Hospital in France, at Aeolian Hall, a few weeks later.[16] In the summer of 1918 she sang the Polish national anthem and other music at a "Polish Night" stadium concert in New York,[17] under the direction of Arnold Volpe,[18] and at a Red Cross benefit concert on Long Island.[19]
Personal life edit
As a young woman Eva Didur was close friends with silent film actress Dagmar Godowsky.[10]
References edit
- ^ "Ambitious to be as Great a Singer as Her Father" Indianapolis News (October 28, 1915): 19. via Newspapers.com
- ^ Paul Krzywicki, From Paderewski to Penderecki: The Polish Musician in Philadelphia (2016): 139. ISBN 9781483442679
- ^ Mary Jane Phillips-Matz, Rosa Ponselle: American Diva (UPNE 1997): 71. ISBN 9781555533175
- ^ Untitled news item, Musical America (November 29, 1919): 11.
- ^ "Eva Didur's Debut" Music News (April 12, 1918): 19.
- ^ "Music" The New International Year Book (1919): 427.
- ^ "Eva Didur Wins Throng" New York Times (March 11, 1918): 9. via ProQuest
- ^ "Mayo Wadler Delights Hippodrome Audience" Musical Courier (December 1918): 33.
- ^ "Eva Didur's Engagement in Italy" Music News (February 14, 1919): 30.
- ^ a b Simon Morrison, Lina and Serge: The Love and Wars of Lina Prokofiev (HMH 2013): 81-82. ISBN 9780547844138
- ^ "Eva Didur to Sing in Trieste" Musical Courier (July 31, 1919): 8.
- ^ "Eva Didur Wins Triumphs in Trieste" Musical America (December 20, 1919): 11.
- ^ Untitled news item, Musical Courier (November 24, 1921): 20.
- ^ "Raise $5000 for Poles" New York Times (November 26, 1917).
- ^ "Other Sunday Benefits" Music News (May 31, 1918): 25.
- ^ "Another Charitable Concert" Music News (June 7, 1918): 17.
- ^ "'Polish Night' at Stadium Concert" New York Times (June 30, 1918).
- ^ "New York Stadium Concerts" Musical Courier (July 4, 1918): 13.
- ^ "Red Cross Concert at Long Beach" Musical Courier (July 25, 1918): 34.
