Marcella Sembrich, soprano

Marcella Sembrich was born in 1858, in Poland. She started her studies by learning the piano and violin. Her voice training started, when she went to Milan and studied with Francesco Lamperti.

Her first opera engagement was in Athens in 1877, singing in "I Puritani". She sang in Russia for over sixteen years during her early career, and in other European countries. Her debut in the USA was in 1883, singing at the Metropolitan Opera.

From 1909 she stopped singing in operas and started performing concerts until 1917. After her retirement she became a teacher at the Juilliard School of Music. She died in 1935 after an illness.

You will need Realplayer to listen to the below clip.

Audio clip of Marcella Sembrich singing Casta diva from "Norma". Click Me

Thanks to Bassocantante.com for the recording.