Susan Metcalfe Casals
Encyclopedia
Susan Metcalfe Casals, born Susan S. Metcalfe (1878–1959) was an American
mezzo-soprano
singer active in the early part of the twentieth century, who had a stormy marriage to the cellist Pablo Casals
. She was highly respected in Lieder and concert recital.
, gave a recital with him (Casals accompanying her at the piano), and briefly developed a 'fervid' friendship, which however was abated when Casals established his close relationship with Guilhermina Suggia
in 1906. In 1908 Metcalfe embarked on a European tour during which she sang for the British royal family. As the Suggia relationship became strained, Metcalfe and Casals corresponded. They met again after Casals had given a concert in Berlin, and were married on April 4, 1914, at New Rochelle. After this they moved together to Europe. The marriage lasted until 1928, when they were formally separated, but they did not divorce until 1957.
in the second. They gave concerts in America, Europe, England, Mexico and Cuba.
The marriage with Casals was stormy, and following their separation in 1929 Mme Metcalfe Casals lived in Paris. Her last known recital was at the École Normale de Musique there in 1951. Later she moved back to the U.S. to live with her sister, and died at New Rochelle in 1959.
accompanying, in 1937. These have been greatly admired and some titles have been included in re-issue compilations such as Schubert Lieder on Record, etc. The titles were as follows:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
singer active in the early part of the twentieth century, who had a stormy marriage to the cellist Pablo Casals
Pablo Casals
Pau Casals i Defilló , known during his professional career as Pablo Casals, was a Spanish Catalan cellist and conductor. He is generally regarded as the pre-eminent cellist of the first half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest cellists of all time...
. She was highly respected in Lieder and concert recital.
Origins
Susan Metcalfe was born in Florence, the daughter of Dr Frank J. Metcalfe, a New York physician and his wife Helene, afterwards Mrs Helene Rochet, prominent members of New Rochelle society. In later years Dr Metcalfe practised in Florence, Italy, and Susan was born there in 1878 and educated in Conservatories in Italy and France. (She also had a brother Louis and a sister Helen Frances Metcalfe (b. 1880), who married the American socialist architect Herman Kobbé.)Connection with Pablo Casals
As a recitalist, Susan Casals made her debut in New York in 1897 and gave few, but very select recitals each year. In 1904 she met the cellist Pablo CasalsPablo Casals
Pau Casals i Defilló , known during his professional career as Pablo Casals, was a Spanish Catalan cellist and conductor. He is generally regarded as the pre-eminent cellist of the first half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest cellists of all time...
, gave a recital with him (Casals accompanying her at the piano), and briefly developed a 'fervid' friendship, which however was abated when Casals established his close relationship with Guilhermina Suggia
Guilhermina Suggia
Guilhermina Augusta Xavier de Medim Suggia Carteado Mena, known as Guilhermina Suggia, was a Portuguese cellist. She studied in Germany with Pablo Casals, and built an international reputation. She spent many years living in England, where she was particularly celebrated...
in 1906. In 1908 Metcalfe embarked on a European tour during which she sang for the British royal family. As the Suggia relationship became strained, Metcalfe and Casals corresponded. They met again after Casals had given a concert in Berlin, and were married on April 4, 1914, at New Rochelle. After this they moved together to Europe. The marriage lasted until 1928, when they were formally separated, but they did not divorce until 1957.
Recitals
During their artistic life together Casals and his wife often gave recitals together in which he accompanied her song sets at the piano and also performed cello sets in the same concert. For example at their farewell concert (their second recital of the season) in New York, April 1916, at the Aeolian Hall, Mme Casals sang a group of songs by Caldera, Caccini, Gluck and Mozart, and later a set of five Scots and Irish songs arranged by Beethoven. In A Maennerchor Artist Concert of January 1917 she sings a similar group in the first part, and songs by Schumann and Emanuel MoorEmánuel Moór
Emánuel Moór was a Hungarian composer, pianist, and inventor of musical instruments....
in the second. They gave concerts in America, Europe, England, Mexico and Cuba.
The marriage with Casals was stormy, and following their separation in 1929 Mme Metcalfe Casals lived in Paris. Her last known recital was at the École Normale de Musique there in 1951. Later she moved back to the U.S. to live with her sister, and died at New Rochelle in 1959.
Recordings
Susan Metcalfe Casals made no fully commercial recordings, but she did record eight sides of 78rpm records (yellow label His Master's Voice) for private distribution, with Gerald MooreGerald Moore
Gerald Moore CBE was an English pianist best known for his career as one of the most in-demand accompanists of his day, accompanying many of the world's most famous musicians...
accompanying, in 1937. These have been greatly admired and some titles have been included in re-issue compilations such as Schubert Lieder on Record, etc. The titles were as follows:
- Franz SchubertFranz SchubertFranz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
:- Lied der Mignon
- Nachtstück
- Die junge Nonne
- Liebesbotschaft
- Die Liebe hat gelogen
- Robert SchumannRobert SchumannRobert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
:- Lotosblume
- Schneeglockchen
- Zum Schluss
- Herzeleid
- Liebeslied
- Gabriel FauréGabriel FauréGabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
:- Soir
- Nell
- Le secret
- Le don silencieux
Archive
- Collection of 53 letters of Casals and Metcalfe, etc., c1915-1918: George P. Moore collection, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian InstitutionThe Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
: Microfilm reel 5743. http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/collection/moorgeor.htm - Susan Metcalfe Letters 1902-1922 (69 items): Jackson Library, Greensboro, University of North CarolinaUniversity of North CarolinaChartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
: MSS 246. http://library.uncg.edu/depts/archives/mss/ead/mss246.xml