Enrica Clay Dillon
Encyclopedia
Enrica Clay Dillon was an American opera singer, opera director, and voice teacher
.
, Dillon was the daughter of Judge Henry Clay Dillon and Florence H. Dillon (née Hood). She was the older sister of composer Fanny Dillon and actress Josephine Dillon; the latter of whom was married to Clark Gable
for 6 years.
Dillon studied voice at Mount Holyoke College
and with baritone Francesco Mottino
in Milan
. She had a prolific career as a dramatic soprano
in Europe during the first decade and a half of the 20th century, giving more than 1,800 opera performances. She was especially active in Italy and sang at most of the principle houses in that country, including La Scala
. She was particularly known for her portrayal of the title role in Giuseppe Verdi
's Aida
.
Dillon abandoned her singing career shortly before the outbreak of World War I
; largely due to continual bouts with illness. She then served as the first director of the Washington Opera Company
from 1919 to 1927. She moved to Philadelphia in 1927 where for three years she taught singing and was director of the Philadelphia Operatic Society. From 1930-1935 she worked for Herbert Witherspoon
as a vocal coach and stage director at first the Chicago Civic Opera
and then the Chicago Grand Opera Company
. She also maintained a home in New York City during the 1930s where she had a voice studio and directed operas for the New York Singing Teachers Association and the New York Opera Guild.
Beginning in 1916, Dillon spent her summers in the state of Maine where she ran an opera and voice training program for aspiring singers at Frederick Bristol
's music camp just outside Harrison, Maine
. Her regular students from Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City would often come up with her to study at the school. Among her notable pupils were opera singer Marie Sundelius
and musical theatre actress Evelyn Herbert.
In 1936 Dillon founded the Deertrees Theatre
in Harrison which was later the home of Dillon's Deertree Opera Company (DOC). The DOC presented its first season in 1940. Unfortunately, many theatres were closed down during World War II
, and the opera company only presented three seasons of performances before the theatre was closed in 1942. Metropolitan Opera
conductor Karl Kritz
served as the company's music director and primary conductor. Hermann Weigert also served on the company's conducting staff. Notable singers to have performed with the company included a young Astrid Varnay
just prior to her triumphant Met debut and soprano Elisabeth Carron in her professional opera debut.
At the time of her death at age 65 in Harrison, Dillon was in the midst of organizing a summer opera festival to be held in July 1947 after already presenting a summer opera fesival in 1946 at the re-opened Deertree Theatre.
Voice teacher
A voice teacher or singing teacher is a musical instructor who trains adults and children in the art of singing. This generally involves training in breath control and support, proper tone production, pitch control and musical intonation, proper formation of vowels and consonants as well as...
.
Life and career
Born in Denver, ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Dillon was the daughter of Judge Henry Clay Dillon and Florence H. Dillon (née Hood). She was the older sister of composer Fanny Dillon and actress Josephine Dillon; the latter of whom was married to Clark Gable
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
for 6 years.
Dillon studied voice at Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
and with baritone Francesco Mottino
Francesco Mottino
Francesco Mottino was an Italian opera singer, voice teacher, drama teacher, librettist, and writer. He had a prolific international opera career from the 1850s through the 1870s...
in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. She had a prolific career as a dramatic soprano
Dramatic soprano
A dramatic soprano is an operatic soprano with a powerful, rich, emotive voice that can sing over, or cut through, a full orchestra. Thicker vocal folds in dramatic voices usually mean less agility than lighter voices but a sustained, fuller sound. Usually this voice has a lower tessitura than...
in Europe during the first decade and a half of the 20th century, giving more than 1,800 opera performances. She was especially active in Italy and sang at most of the principle houses in that country, including La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
. She was particularly known for her portrayal of the title role in Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
's Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
.
Dillon abandoned her singing career shortly before the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
; largely due to continual bouts with illness. She then served as the first director of the Washington Opera Company
Washington National Opera (1919–1936)
For the present company of the same name, see Washington National Opera.The Washington National Opera Association, founded in 1919 as "Washington Community Opera", was a low-budget opera company, comprising professional principals supported by amateurs, active in Washington, DC until 1936; it was...
from 1919 to 1927. She moved to Philadelphia in 1927 where for three years she taught singing and was director of the Philadelphia Operatic Society. From 1930-1935 she worked for Herbert Witherspoon
Herbert Witherspoon
Herbert Witherspoon was an American bass singer and opera manager.-Biography:A native of Buffalo, New York, Herbert Witherspoon graduated from Yale University in 1895 where he had performed as a member of the Glee Club. After leaving school he studied music with Horatio Parker, Edward MacDowell,...
as a vocal coach and stage director at first the Chicago Civic Opera
Chicago Civic Opera
The Civic Opera Company was a Chicago company that produced seven seasons of grand opera in the Auditorium Theater from 1922 to 1928, and three seasons at its own Civic Opera House from 1929 to 1931 before falling victim to financial difficulties brought on in part by the Great Depression.-...
and then the Chicago Grand Opera Company
Chicago Grand Opera Company
Two grand opera companies in Chicago have gone by the name Chicago Grand Opera CompanyThe first Chicago Grand Opera Company produced four seasons of opera in Chicago’s Auditorium Theater from the Fall of 1910 through November 1915. It was the first resident Chicago opera company...
. She also maintained a home in New York City during the 1930s where she had a voice studio and directed operas for the New York Singing Teachers Association and the New York Opera Guild.
Beginning in 1916, Dillon spent her summers in the state of Maine where she ran an opera and voice training program for aspiring singers at Frederick Bristol
Frederick Bristol
Frederick E. Bristol was a celebrated American voice teacher who operated a private studios in Boston and New York City during the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century. He began teaching singing in 1869 and the 60th anniversary of his teaching career was recognized by an article...
's music camp just outside Harrison, Maine
Harrison, Maine
Harrison is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,315 at the 2000 census. A historic resort area, Harrison straddles Long Lake and Crystal Lake...
. Her regular students from Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City would often come up with her to study at the school. Among her notable pupils were opera singer Marie Sundelius
Marie Sundelius
Marie Sundelius was a Swedish-American classical soprano. She sang for many years with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and later embarked on a second career as a celebrated voice teacher in Boston....
and musical theatre actress Evelyn Herbert.
In 1936 Dillon founded the Deertrees Theatre
Deertrees Theatre
Deertrees Theatre is a performing arts and cultural center located in Harrison, Maine, United States. The theatre was founded by the distinguished opera director and singing coach Enrica Clay Dillon in 1936 and is now owned and operated by the non profit Deertrees Foundation...
in Harrison which was later the home of Dillon's Deertree Opera Company (DOC). The DOC presented its first season in 1940. Unfortunately, many theatres were closed down during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the opera company only presented three seasons of performances before the theatre was closed in 1942. 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...
conductor Karl Kritz
Karl Kritz
Karl Kritz was an Austrian conductor. Born in Vienna, he sang in the Vienna Boys Choir as a child. He studied with Franz Schmidt at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna. After graduating, he pursued further studies in conducting in Nuremberg and Berlin...
served as the company's music director and primary conductor. Hermann Weigert also served on the company's conducting staff. Notable singers to have performed with the company included a young Astrid Varnay
Astrid Varnay
Ibolyka Astrid Maria Varnay was an American dramatic soprano of Hungarian heritage and Swedish birth, who did most of her work in the United States and Germany. She was one of the best-known Wagnerian heroic sopranos of her generation...
just prior to her triumphant Met debut and soprano Elisabeth Carron in her professional opera debut.
At the time of her death at age 65 in Harrison, Dillon was in the midst of organizing a summer opera festival to be held in July 1947 after already presenting a summer opera fesival in 1946 at the re-opened Deertree Theatre.
Source
- ENRICA CLAY DILLON, SANG IN 1,800 OPERAS, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, 10 October 1946