Geraldine Farrar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Geraldine Farrar
Born	Alice Geraldine Farrar (1882-02-28)February 28, 1882 Melrose, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	March 11, 1967(1967-03-11) (aged 85) Ridgefield, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation	Opera singer, actress
Years active	1901–1922
Spouse(s)	Lou Tellegen ​ ​ (m. 1916; div. 1923)​

Farrar in Julien in 1914

Alice Geraldine Farrar (born February 28, 1882 – died March 11, 1967) was a famous American opera singer. She was known for her beautiful voice and great acting skills. Geraldine could sing both lyric soprano and dramatic opera parts. She was very popular, especially among young women, who were sometimes called "Gerry-flappers."

Biography of a Star

Geraldine Farrar was born in Melrose, Massachusetts. Her father, Sid Farrar, was a baseball player. Geraldine started studying music in Boston when she was only five years old. By the time she was 14, she was already giving concerts!

She later studied singing with famous teachers in New York City, Paris, and Berlin. In 1901, Geraldine made her first big appearance at the Berlin State Opera. She sang the role of Marguerite in the opera Faust. She stayed with the company for three years, learning even more from the famous German singer Lilli Lehmann.

Geraldine also sang in other popular operas like Mignon, Manon, and Roméo et Juliette.

Singing at the Metropolitan Opera

After singing for three years at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Geraldine Farrar came back to the United States. She made her debut at the New York Metropolitan Opera on November 26, 1906. She sang in Roméo et Juliette.

In 1907, she performed in the first Met show of Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Geraldine was a main singer at the Metropolitan Opera until she retired in 1922. She performed 29 different roles in 672 shows! She was incredibly popular, especially with young female opera fans in New York.

Geraldine also created new roles in operas. She was the first to sing the main parts in Pietro Mascagni's Amica (1905) and Puccini's Suor Angelica (1918). A fun fact is that for her role as the Goosegirl in Königskinder (1910), Geraldine actually trained her own flock of geese! After one show, she even came out for a bow with a live goose under her arm.

Geraldine Farrar as the Goosegirl at the Metropolitan Opera in 1910. She trained her own geese for this role!

From Opera to Films and Radio

Geraldine Farrar made many recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company. She also became a movie star! Between opera seasons, she acted in silent films. From 1915 to 1920, she starred in more than a dozen movies.

One of her most famous film roles was in Cecil B. DeMille's 1915 movie Carmen, based on the opera. People loved her performance. The San Francisco Call & Post newspaper said her Carmen movie was a huge success. Another important role was Joan of Arc in the 1917 film Joan the Woman.

In June 1931, Geraldine Farrar made her first radio broadcast. She sang over the National Broadcasting Company's nationwide "Red" network.

In 1960, Geraldine Farrar received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These stars honor her work in music and film.

Later Life and Legacy

Geraldine Farrar and actor Lou Tellegen in 1916.

Geraldine Farrar married actor Lou Tellegen on February 8, 1916. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1923.

She retired from opera in 1922 when she was 40 years old. Her last performance was in the opera Zazà. Geraldine had worked very hard, performing many times each season. For example, she sang as Madama Butterfly 95 times and as Carmen 58 times during her 16 seasons at the Met.

After retiring from opera, Geraldine continued to perform in concerts. She also kept making recordings. For a short time in 1934–35, she was a commentator for the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts. In 1938, she wrote her autobiography, Such Sweet Compulsion.

Geraldine Farrar passed away in Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1967 at the age of 85. She was buried in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York. She did not have any children.

Filmography

The headstone of Geraldine Farrar in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.

Media

See also

In Spanish: Geraldine Farrar para niños