Erma Zarska
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Heřma Žárská (born Hermína Maria Žárská, in English known as Erma Zarska or Erma Zareska; 9 June 1889 – 30 March 1971) was a Czech opera singer. She was soprano with the Metropolitan Opera in the 1915–1916 season. She also sang with the National Theatre in Prague and the Slovak National Theatre.
9 June 1889
Erma Zarska | |
|---|---|
Erma Zarska, from the Bain News Service collection, Library of Congress | |
| Born | Hermína Maria Žárská 9 June 1889 |
| Died | 30 March 1971 (aged 81) |
| Other names | Heřma Žárská, Erma Zareska |
| Occupation | Opera singer |
Personal life
Hermína Maria Žárská was born in Olomouc, the daughter of Ignác Žárský, a blacksmith and carriage builder.[1] She trained as a singer in Prague and Berlin.[2] In the years 1913-1914, she studied singing at the Stern Conservatory in Berlin with Alfredo Cairati.[3]
Zarska died in Prague in 1971, aged 81 years.[2]
Career
Zarska sang at the Prague National Theatre as a young woman,[4][5] in Hubička, Dalibor, and The Bartered Bride, all operas by Smetana.[2] She made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in New York in November 1915;[6][7] however, "a severe cold" affected her voice, and it failed during her debut performance in Lohengrin. "At the end she was singing almost in a whisper," according to the New York Times reviewer.[8] Emmy Destinn returned to the Met to take over the role while Zarska recovered.[9]
Zarska also sang the role of Santuzza in the Met's production of Cavalleria rusticana in February 1916, with Sophie Braslau singing another part.[10][11] During the run of Rusticana, she had a further embarrassment on stage, when her daring gown's shoulder strap slipped and "the audience saw a great deal of Erma", according to reports.[12] She returned to Europe at the end of that season, when her contract was not renewed.[13]
She made recordings for Columbia in 1916.[14][15] She was a soloist with the Slovak National Theatre in the 1921–1922 season.[2]
