Opera Singer. American dramatic contralto who partnered Enrico Caruso, Giovanni Martinelli and Beniamino Gigli at the Metropolitan Opera. She debuted on December 22, 1900 as 'Amneris' in Guiseppi Verdi's "Aida", and performed until November 28, 1929 when she took her final bow as 'Azucena' in Verdi's "Il Trovatore" and on RCA Victor Red Seal Records. She appeared in the American premieres of Giacomo Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" as 'Suzuki' and Englebert Humperdinck's "Konigskinder" as the 'Witch', but her favorite role was the title role in Chrisoph Gluck's "Orfeo" in Arturo Toscanini's 1909 revival of that opera at the Metropolitan. She was the wife of composer Sidney Homer, whose art songs she featured on her recordings and recitals. The Homers were a great inspiration to their composer nephew, Samuel Barber. Madame Homer's recordings of "Aida" and "Il Trovatore" duets with Caruso are still sought by collectors, and she and her Bolton Landing, New York neighbor, Marcella Sembrich, are credited with teaching the great Italian tenor to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner". Her recording of Alice Hawthorne's "Whispering Hope" with soprano Alma Gluck is also popular with collectors and was an early "best seller" for RCA Victor. She studied with Fidele Koenig, Paul Lherie and Marcella Sembrich. The Homers retired to Winter Park, Florida after selling their Bolton Landing, New York home in 1941 and Madame Homer taught voice on the faculty of Rollins College.
Opera Singer. American dramatic contralto who partnered Enrico Caruso, Giovanni Martinelli and Beniamino Gigli at the Metropolitan Opera. She debuted on December 22, 1900 as 'Amneris' in Guiseppi Verdi's "Aida", and performed until November 28, 1929 when she took her final bow as 'Azucena' in Verdi's "Il Trovatore" and on RCA Victor Red Seal Records. She appeared in the American premieres of Giacomo Puccini's "Madame Butterfly" as 'Suzuki' and Englebert Humperdinck's "Konigskinder" as the 'Witch', but her favorite role was the title role in Chrisoph Gluck's "Orfeo" in Arturo Toscanini's 1909 revival of that opera at the Metropolitan. She was the wife of composer Sidney Homer, whose art songs she featured on her recordings and recitals. The Homers were a great inspiration to their composer nephew, Samuel Barber. Madame Homer's recordings of "Aida" and "Il Trovatore" duets with Caruso are still sought by collectors, and she and her Bolton Landing, New York neighbor, Marcella Sembrich, are credited with teaching the great Italian tenor to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner". Her recording of Alice Hawthorne's "Whispering Hope" with soprano Alma Gluck is also popular with collectors and was an early "best seller" for RCA Victor. She studied with Fidele Koenig, Paul Lherie and Marcella Sembrich. The Homers retired to Winter Park, Florida after selling their Bolton Landing, New York home in 1941 and Madame Homer taught voice on the faculty of Rollins College.
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