Dora de Phillippe

Dora Auspitz was born in Paris, the daughter of Jules Auspitz and Augustine Bruckner Auspitz.^[1] She trained as a singer in Berlin and Vienna. Her publicity said she was of "French-Austrian heritage" and that her father was a banker and a writer.^[2]

Dora de Phillippe first performed in the United States in 1902,^[3] and was already "an accomplished lieder singer", playing soubrette parts in San Francisco, by 1904.^[4][5] She sang with the National Opera of Canada, the Chicago Grand Opera Company, and the Aborn Opera Company, among others.^[6][7][8] She was one of the first to perform Madama Butterfly in English for American audiences,^[9] and was credited with singing the part of Cio-Cio-San more than any other singer at the time.^[10] She also sang the part in Italian.^[11]

De Phillippe's other roles included Nedda in Pagliacci and Micaela in Carmen.^[12] In 1916, she began as a Chautauqua presenter,^[10] hoping to bring opera to untraditional audiences outside major cities.^[13][14]

During World War I, de Phillippe was active in warwork, publicizing American Red Cross efforts to provide warm clothing for soldiers, and giving benefit concerts for the Red Cross^[15] and for Liberty Bonds.^[16] Her rendition of La Marseillaise was especially sought, because "the hymn is rarely given with greater fervor than when she sings it."^[17]

After the war and in widowhood, de Phillippe continued on stage^[18] and on the Chautauqua circuit.^[19] She headed her own touring company in 1926.^[20] She also continued giving concerts for charities, including for the Blind Relief Fund of Philadelphia in 1927.^[21] In 1931, she sang a recital in New York City.^[22]

Dora de Phillippe married American theatrical manager Arthur S. Phinney in 1909.^[23] Phinney died in 1920.^[24][25]