Maria Orefice
Italian-American coloratura soprano and vocal teacher (1893–1961)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maria Josephine Orefice (July 16, 1893 – June 22, 1961), also known by her married name Maria Caselotti, was a celebrated Italian-American coloratura soprano and vocal pedagogue.[1] She gained international acclaim as a prima donna at the Royal Opera House in Rome before establishing a prominent 35-year teaching career in Hollywood.[1] She is perhaps best known as the mother and vocal influence of Adriana Caselotti, the voice of Walt Disney's Snow White.[2][3]
July 16, 1893
- Opera Singer
- Vocal coach
- Actress
Maria Orefice | |
|---|---|
| Born | Maria Josephine Orefice July 16, 1893 |
| Died | June 22, 1961 (aged 67) Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1907–1961 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Louise Caselotti (daughter) Adriana Caselotti (daughter) |
Early life and family
Maria Josephine Orefice was born on July 16, 1893, in Casavatore, Naples, Italy, to Luigi Francesco Orefice (later Odrich) and Maria C. Pazella.[1] She grew up in Naples until the age of ten, when her family immigrated to the United States around 1904.[1]
The family settled in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where a linguistic misunderstanding led to a lasting name change; her teachers consistently mispronounced "Orefice" as "Odrich," a surname the family eventually adopted.[4][1] Maria was one of four siblings, including brothers Frank and Vincent, and a sister, Anna, who became a lifelong educator at Waltersville School in Bridgeport.[1]
Career
Operatic success
Maria's vocal talents were first recognized by Guido Caselotti, the organist at Holy Rosary Church in Bridgeport, who became her teacher and later her husband.[1][5] Under the professional name Maria Caselotti, she achieved significant success in Europe and the Americas as a lyric and coloratura soprano.[1]
Her most prestigious affiliation was as a prima donna at the Royal Opera House of Rome (Teatro dell'Opera di Roma).[3][1] Critics of the era lauded her as a "genuine artist of special grace," particularly noting her performances in technically demanding roles such as: Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Mimì in La Bohème, and Marguerite in Faust.[6] In addition to her work in Rome, she performed with the Havana Opera Company, the San Carlo Opera Company, and the Di Feo Opera Company.[1]
Pedagogy in Hollywood
Despite her "phenomenal success" in Italy, Maria chose to stop performing publicly upon her final return to the United States in 1926.[1] Settling in Los Angeles, she and her husband opened a vocal studio.[1] Following her divorce in 1933, she established her own independent studio in Hollywood, where she taught voice for over 35 years.[1]
Her teaching lineage is notable; her elder daughter, Louise Caselotti, became a professional opera singer and the first teacher of the legendary Maria Callas.[7] Her younger daughter, Adriana Caselotti, famously won the role of Snow White by imitating her mother's operatic technique.[8]
Personal life
Maria married Guido Luigi Emanuele Hocke-Caselotti on October 14, 1909, in Bridgeport.[9][5] They had two daughters: Marie Louisa (born 1910) and Adriana Loretta (born 1917).[1]
In March 1933, Maria filed for divorce from Guido, citing his "indifference".[10][5] By 1934, she was living independently in a Hollywood Heights home on Alta Loma Terrace, valued at $10,000, where she resided with Adriana during the production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.[1]
Death
Maria Caselotti died on June 22, 1961, at the age of 67, following a lengthy illness.[1] She is buried in Los Angeles, and her legacy continues through the recordings of her daughters and the students she trained over her three-decade teaching career.[1]