Home > Geraldine Farrar

Farrar was born in Melrose, Massachusetts, the daughter of Sidney Farrar and his wife Henrietta Barnes. She studied voice in Boston, New York, Paris, and Berlin, creating a sensation in the latter city with her debut as Marguerite in Gounod's Faust in 1901, and appearing in the title rôles of Mignon and Manon, and as Juliette in Roméo et Juliette. Among her fans in Berlin was Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany, with whom she conducted an affair beginning in 1903.

After appearing at Monte Carlo she made her debut at the Metropolitan in 1906. She developed a popular following in such rôles as Carmen and Madame Butterfly, originating the rôle of Suor Angelica in Il trittico .

She was, in best opera diva style, noted for her tempermental nature.

Farrar recorded extensively for the Victor Talking Machine CompanyThe Victor Talking Machine Company ( 1901 1929) was a United States corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. The company was incorporated in Camd and was often featured prominently in that record company's ads (an example can be seen at 1914 in musicSee also 1913 in music, other events of 1914, 1915 in music and the list of 'years in music'. Events October 15 In Rovigo, Beniamino Gigli makes his operatic debut in Amilcare Ponchielli's La Gioconda The first recorded calypso music is made in Trinidad G).

She also appeared in silent movies, filmed inbetween between Opera seasons. Farrar starred in over a dozen films from 1915Events January 12 The Rocky Mountain National Park is established by an act of Congress. January 12 United States House of Representatives rejects proposal to give women the right to vote. January 13 An earthquake (6. 8 in Richter scale) in Avezzano, Ital to 19201920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) Events January January 7 Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. January 9 Britain announces it will build 100,000 homes for war veterans. January 10 Leagu. Perhaps her most notable screen role was as Joan of ArcJoan of Arc ( January 6, 1412 May 30, 1431) (also Jeanne d'Arc Jehanne la Pucelle in French, and Maid of Orleans is a national heroine of France and saint of the Catholic Church. During the Hundred Years' War she led the French against the English and was in the 1917Events January 2 The Royal Bank of Canada takes over Quebec Bank. January 22 World War I: President Woodrow Wilson calls for "peace without victory" in Europe. January 25 The Danish West Indies is sold to the United States for $25 million January 25 Anti- film Joan the Woman .

Her marriage to Lou TellegenLou Tellegen ( 26 November 1881- 29 October 1934) actor, was probably born in St. Oedenrode, the Netherlands, and died by his own hand in Hollywood, California. Born Isadore Louis Bernard van Dommelem he was the illegitimate child of a Belgian lieutenant. on February 8, 1916 was the source of considerable scandal, terminating in a very public divorce in 1923, which was brought again to public recollection by Tellegen's bizarre 1934 suicide in Hollywood.

She retired from opera at the age of forty and appeared in recitals until 1931, and was briefly the commentator for the radio broadcasts at the Met.

Her autobiography, Such Sweet Compulsion, published in 1938, was written in alternating chapters purporting to be her own words and those of her mother, her mother rather floridly recounting Geraldine's accomplishments.

She died in Ridgefield, Connecticut of a heart attack and was buried in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.