Genevieve Rowe
American singer (1908–1995)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Genevieve Rowe (August 28, 1908 - February 26, 1995) was a coloratura soprano in the era of old-time radio.[1]
Juilliard Graduate School of Opera
Genevieve Rowe | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 28, 1908 Fremont, Ohio |
| Died | February 26, 1995 (aged 86) New York, New York |
| Education | Wooster College Juilliard Graduate School of Opera |
| Spouse | Albert Payson Hill |
Early years
Rowe was born in Fremont, Ohio.[1] In her hometown of Wooster, Ohio,[2] both of her parents were music educators; her father was dean of music at the Wooster College Conservatory, and her mother taught piano and music theory there.[3] Although she began studying piano at age 4, she eventually came to prefer singing. She was a graduate of Wooster College[4] with degrees in arts and music[5] and studied on scholarship at the Juilliard Graduate School of Opera.[3] She later studied singing privately with Sidney Dietch.[6]
A 1939 newspaper article about Rowe noted, "Miss Rowe had the happy habit of winning every musical competition she entered."[3] Those contests included the 1929 Atwater Kent national auditions, the 1932 McDowell Club Award,[7] the 1933 National Federation of Music Clubs contest, and the 1938 Rising Musical Star competition on NBC radio.[3]
Rowe gained early experience in radio when she sang over WTAM while she was a student at Wooster.[5]
Career
In 1938,[8] Rowe had the role of Beauty in Vittorio Giannini's Beauty and the Beast on CBS, radio's first commissioned opera.[9] She also was one of the featured vocalists on The First American Opera Festival, a sustaining program that was broadcast on WOR in 1942. The one-hour program presented adaptations of seven operas and promoted sales of savings bonds and stamps for the U.S. Treasury Department.[10]
On radio, Rowe was the female vocalist on Gaslight Gayeties[11] and Harvest of Stars,.[3] She performed regularly on Johnny Presents,[12] the Burl Ives Coffee Club[13]: 56 and the Gay Nineties Revue.[13] Other shows on which she was heard included Melody Hall.[14] In 1945 she used the pseudonym Irene Hill on one radio show because she was singing regularly on two network programs.[15]
Rowe sang with the Montreal Opera, the Westchester Philharmonic Society, and other groups.[16]
In 1947, Rowe and Glen Burris, accompanied by Paul Baron's orchestra, recorded The Student Prince Album (Majestic MZ-4), containing six discs.[17] In 1948, Rowe — along with Lillian Cornell and Lawrence Brooks, accompanied by Sigmund Romberg's orchestra and chorus — recorded Gems From Sigmund Romberg Shows Vol. II (Victor MO 1256). The album contained four discs.[18]
Personal life
Rowe was married to Albert Payson Hill, a teacher. He was a pianist who often accompanied her in concerts.[9]
