Genevieve Rowe (August 28, 1908 - February 26, 1995) was a coloratura soprano in the era of old-time radio.[1]
Genevieve Rowe | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 28, 1908 Fremont, Ohio |
| Died | February 26, 1995 (aged 86) New York, New York |
| Alma mater | Wooster College Juilliard Graduate School of Opera |
| Spouse | Albert Payson Hill |
Early years
editRowe was born in Fremont, Ohio.[1] In her hometown of Wooster, Ohio,[2] both of her parents were music educators; her father was dean of music at the Wooster College Conservatory, and her mother taught piano and music theory there.[3] Although she began studying piano at age 4, she eventually came to prefer singing. She was a graduate of Wooster College[4] with degrees in arts and music[5] and studied on scholarship at the Juilliard Graduate School of Opera.[3]
A 1939 newspaper article about Rowe noted, "Miss Rowe had the happy habit of winning every musical competition she entered."[3] Those contests included the 1929 Atwater Kent national auditions, the 1932 McDowell Club Award,[6] the 1933 National Federation of Music Clubs contest, and the 1938 Rising Musical Star competition on NBC radio.[3]
Rowe gained early experience in radio when she sang over WTAM while she was a student at Wooster.[5]
Career
editIn 1938,[7] Rowe had the role of Beauty in Vittorio Giannini's Beauty and the Beast on CBS, radio's first commissioned opera.[8] She also was one of the featured vocalists on The First American Opera Festival, a sustaining program that was broadcast on WOR in 1942. The one-hour program presented adaptations of seven operas and promoted sales of savings bonds and stamps for the U.S. Treasury Department.[9]
On radio, Rowe was the female vocalist on Gaslight Gayeties[10] and Harvest of Stars,.[3] She performed regularly on Johnny Presents,[11] the Burl Ives Coffee Club[12]: 56 and the Gay Nineties Revue.[12] Other shows on which she was heard included Melody Hall.[13] In 1945 she used the pseudonym Irene Hill on one radio show because she was singing regularly on two network programs.[14]
Rowe sang with the Montreal Opera, the Westchester Philharmonic Society, and other groups.[15]
In 1947, Rowe and Glen Burris, accompanied by Paul Baron's orchestra, recorded The Student Prince Album (Majestic MZ-4), containing six discs.[16] In 1948, Rowe — along with Lillian Cornell and Lawrence Brooks, accompanied by Sigmund Romberg's orchestra and chorus — recorded Gems From Sigmund Romberg Shows Vol. II (Victor MO 1256). The album contained four discs.[17]
Personal life
editRowe was married to Albert Payson Hill, a teacher. He was a pianist who often accompanied her in concerts.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 233.
- ^ "Rowe-ing in Harvest". Cincinnati Enquirer. Ohio, Cincinnati. July 13, 1947. p. 70. Retrieved August 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Miss Rowe Joins Summer Series". Naugatuck Daily News. Connecticut, Naugatuck. July 5, 1947. Retrieved August 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Genevieve Rowe, Soprano, to Sing in Second Community Concert Here". The Record-Argus. Pennsylvania, Greenville. March 14, 1951. p. 4. Retrieved August 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Doran, Dorothy (December 10, 1936). "'Met' Opera Audition Opens Another Door For Genevieve Rowe". The Akron Beacon Journal. p. 28. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Genevieve Row Sings: Commands Ringing Top-Notes in Recital at Town Hall". The New York Times. December 8, 1934. p. 19. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ Villamil, Victoria Etnier (2004). From Johnson's Kids to Lemonade Opera: The American Classical Singer Comes of Age. UPNE. p. 16. ISBN 9781555536350. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Community Concert Soloist Radio Star". The Evening Sun. Pennsylvania, Hanover. February 26, 1952. p. 4. Retrieved August 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "WOR's Lavish Opera Series Sustainer". Billboard. May 9, 1942. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ^ Secon, Paul (March 17, 1945). "How 6 Shows Pick Poppers In N.Y. Airing". Billboard. p. 13. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ^ "Sings in Radio Show". The Evening News. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. March 19, 1938. p. 14. Retrieved August 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 128.
- ^ Burr, Eugene (October 24, 1942). "Program Reviews: Melody Hall". Billboard. p. 7. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "(untitled brief)". Radio Mirror. October 1946. p. 10. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ "Genevieve Rowe to Be Presented Here By Community Concert Association". The Rutherford Courier. Tennessee, Smyrna. November 14, 1952. p. 4. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Classical and Semi-Classical". Billboard. August 9, 1947. p. 121. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ^ "Advance Record Releases". Billboard. September 11, 1948. p. 117. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
