Audrey Schuh
Encyclopedia
Audrey Schuh was born in New Orleans, Louisiana
, on , and studied both music and medical technology at Loyola University of the South, where she studied with Dorothy Hulse, who was also the pedagogue of Harry Theyard
and Charles Anthony. Her first leading role with the New Orleans Opera
Association (at the age of eighteen) was the page-boy Oscar in Un ballo in maschera, opposite Jussi Björling
, in 1950. The petite soprano
was to become a great local favorite, and starred there in Don Giovanni (as Zerlina, opposite Italo Tajo
), Carmen (as Micaëla, with Risë Stevens
), Amelia al ballo (conducted by Renato Cellini
), Falstaff (as Nannetta, with Leonard Warren
), Die Fledermaus (as Roselinde von Eisenstein), Hänsel und Gretel (as Gretel), La bohème (as Musetta, with Licia Albanese
and Giuseppe di Stefano
), La traviata (replacing Anna Moffo
, to an avalanche of publicity and seventeen curtain-calls), La bohème (as Mimì, with Giuseppe Campora
), Markheim (world premiere, with Norman Treigle
), Turandot (as Liù, opposite Birgit Nilsson
, directed by Tito Capobianco
), Elektra (as Chrysothemis), Pagliacci, and Il tabarro (with Plácido Domingo
and Chester Ludgin
).
Miss Schuh also sang Nannetta in Falstaff for the San Francisco Opera
, at the behest of Mr Warren, and alongside Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
as Mrs Ford. She sang with the Houston Grand Opera
(Madama Butterfly), the New England Opera Theatre (La traviata and La rondine), the Jackson Opera Guild (Pagliacci, then Die Fledermaus with Virginia MacWatters
) and the San Antonio Opera Guild (Markheim). In 1967, she appeared at the New York City Opera
for a memorable season at its new theatre at Lincoln Center: La bohème (as Mimì), Madama Butterfly (directed by Frank Corsaro
), and Suor Angelica (conducted by Julius Rudel
). She made a moving return to the New Orleans Opera in 1977, again as Micaëla, which was her Farewell.
One of her sons, the tenor Kirk Redmann
, appeared with the Metropolitan Opera
from 1983 to 1990. From 1994 to 1999, VAI issued several of Miss Schuh's New Orleans performances on Compact Discs.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, on , and studied both music and medical technology at Loyola University of the South, where she studied with Dorothy Hulse, who was also the pedagogue of Harry Theyard
Harry Theyard
Harry Theyard , tenor, is a native of New Orleans and is a 1957 graduate of Loyola University of the South, where he studied under Dorothy Hulse, who was also the teacher of Audrey Schuh and Charles Anthony...
and Charles Anthony. Her first leading role with the New Orleans Opera
New Orleans Opera
Opera has long been part of the musical culture of New Orleans, Louisiana. Operas have regularly been performed in the city since the 1790s, and for the majority of the city's history since the early 19th century, New Orleans has had a resident company regularly performing opera in addition to...
Association (at the age of eighteen) was the page-boy Oscar in Un ballo in maschera, opposite Jussi Björling
Jussi Björling
Johan Jonatan "Jussi" Björling was a Swedish tenor. One of the leading operatic singers of the 20th Century, Björling appeared frequently at the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City as well as at other major European opera...
, in 1950. The petite soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
was to become a great local favorite, and starred there in Don Giovanni (as Zerlina, opposite Italo Tajo
Italo Tajo
Italo Tajo was an Italian operatic bass, particularly associated with Mozart and Rossini roles.Tajo was born in Pinerolo, Piedmont, and studied violin and voice at the Music Conservatory of Turin with Nilde Stichi-Bertozzi. He made his stage debut in 1935, as Fafner , under Fritz Busch...
), Carmen (as Micaëla, with Risë Stevens
Risë Stevens
Risë Stevens is a retired American operatic mezzo-soprano.-Professional life:Stevens studied at New York's Juilliard School for three years. She went to Vienna, where she was trained by Marie Gutheil-Schoder and Herbert Graf. She made her début as Mignon in Prague in 1936 and stayed there until...
), Amelia al ballo (conducted by Renato Cellini
Renato Cellini
Renato Cellini was a celebrated Italian opera conductor. His father was Enzio Cellini, who was a stage director who worked with Arturo Toscanini.- Metropolitan Opera :...
), Falstaff (as Nannetta, with Leonard Warren
Leonard Warren
Leonard Warren was a famous American opera singer. A baritone, he was a leading artist for many years with the Metropolitan Opera in New York.-Biography:...
), Die Fledermaus (as Roselinde von Eisenstein), Hänsel und Gretel (as Gretel), La bohème (as Musetta, with Licia Albanese
Licia Albanese
Licia Albanese is an Italian-born American operatic soprano. Noted especially for her portrayals of the lyric heroines of Verdi and Puccini, Albanese was a leading artist with the Metropolitan Opera of New York from 1940 to 1966...
and Giuseppe di Stefano
Giuseppe Di Stefano
Giuseppe Di Stefano was an Italian operatic tenor who sang professionally from the late 1940s until the early 1990s. He was known as the "Golden voice" or "The most beautiful voice", as the true successor of Beniamino Gigli...
), La traviata (replacing Anna Moffo
Anna Moffo
Anna Moffo was an Italian-American opera singer and one of the leading lyric-coloratura sopranos of her generation...
, to an avalanche of publicity and seventeen curtain-calls), La bohème (as Mimì, with Giuseppe Campora
Giuseppe Campora
Giuseppe Campora , was an Italian operatic tenor. Campora was one of the greatest Puccinian tenors of his generation...
), Markheim (world premiere, with Norman Treigle
Norman Treigle
Norman Treigle was an American operatic bass-baritone, who was acclaimed for his great abilities as a singing-actor, and specialized in roles that evoked villainy and terror....
), Turandot (as Liù, opposite Birgit Nilsson
Birgit Nilsson
right|thumb|Nilsson in 1948.Birgit Nilsson was a celebrated Swedish dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works...
, directed by Tito Capobianco
Tito Capobianco
Tito Capobianco is a noted stage director of opera.He made his official debut with Aïda, at the Teatro Argentino, La Plata, in 1953, then worked at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires...
), Elektra (as Chrysothemis), Pagliacci, and Il tabarro (with Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
and Chester Ludgin
Chester Ludgin
-Biography:Chester Ludgin was a native of Brooklyn, New York. He made his professional debut in 1956 with The Experimental Opera Theatre of America , as Baron Scarpia in Giacomo Puccini's Tosca, conducted by Renato Cellini and directed by Armando Agnini...
).
Miss Schuh also sang Nannetta in Falstaff for the San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
, at the behest of Mr Warren, and alongside Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, DBE was a German-born Austrian/British soprano opera singer and recitalist. She was among the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century, much admired for her performances of Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, and Wolf.-Early life:Olga Maria Elisabeth Friederike...
as Mrs Ford. She sang with the Houston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera
Houston Grand Opera Houston Grand Opera was founded in 1955 through the joint efforts of Maestro Walter Herbert and cultural leaders Mrs. Louis G. Lobit, Edward Bing and Charles Cockrell...
(Madama Butterfly), the New England Opera Theatre (La traviata and La rondine), the Jackson Opera Guild (Pagliacci, then Die Fledermaus with Virginia MacWatters
Virginia MacWatters
Virginia MacWatters was an acclaimed American coloratura soprano.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, MacWatters studied at the Curtis Institute of Music, and sang 611 Broadway performances of Adele in Rosalinda , conducted by Erich Korngold, from 1942 to 1944...
) and the San Antonio Opera Guild (Markheim). In 1967, she appeared at the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
for a memorable season at its new theatre at Lincoln Center: La bohème (as Mimì), Madama Butterfly (directed by Frank Corsaro
Frank Corsaro
Frank Corsaro is one of America's foremost stage directors of opera and theatre. His Broadway productions include The Night of the Iguana ....
), and Suor Angelica (conducted by Julius Rudel
Julius Rudel
Julius Rudel is an American opera and orchestra conductor who emigrated to the United States from Austria at the age of 17 and studied conducting at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. He then forged a 35-year career with the New York City Opera, from 1944 to 1979, and was the Music...
). She made a moving return to the New Orleans Opera in 1977, again as Micaëla, which was her Farewell.
One of her sons, the tenor Kirk Redmann
Kirk Redmann
Kirk Redmann is an American operatic tenor, and the son of Audrey Schuh and Kerry P. Redmann.Born in New Orleans, he graduated from Tulane University, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts...
, appeared with the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
from 1983 to 1990. From 1994 to 1999, VAI issued several of Miss Schuh's New Orleans performances on Compact Discs.
Discography
- Verdi: Un ballo in maschera (S.Morris, Björling, Rothmüller; Herbert, 1950) [live] VAI
- Verdi: Falstaff (della Chiesa, Warren; Cellini, 1956) [live] VAI
- Puccini: La bohème (Albanese, di Stefano, Valdengo, Treigle; Cellini, 1959) [live] VAI
- Floyd: Markheim (Treigle; Andersson, 1966) [live] VAI
- Puccini: Turandot: excerpts (Nilsson; Andersson, 1966) [live] VAI
- Strauss: Elektra (Borkh, Resnik, Rayson; Andersson, 1966) [live] VAI