Earth and Space News: Queena Mario Met Opera Gretel

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Monday, May 24, 2021

Queena Mario Sang Gretel in Met Opera's First Broadcast, Dec. 25, 1931

Summary: Queena Mario sang Gretel in Met Opera's first full broadcast, Friday, Dec. 25, 1931, an event inaugurating the opera house's weekly radio matinees.

On Friday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1931, NBC aired Humperdink's "Hänsel und Gretel" as the first complete broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera; pictured (left to right) NBC President Merle H. Aylesworth, Deems Taylor, Karl Riedel (Conductor), Henrietta Wakefield (Gertrud), Editha Fleischer (Hänsel), Queena Mario (Gretel), Gustav Schuzendorf (Peter), Pearl Besuner (Dew Fairy), Giulio Gatti-Casazza (General Manager); photograph by assistant Met Opera conductor Carlo Edwards (1891-Jan. 15, 1948): The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook March 19, 2012

Queena Mario sang Gretel in Met Opera's first full broadcast, Friday, Dec. 25, 1931, an event that launched the opera house's popular form of weekly outreach, currently close to its ninth decade of presentations.

On Friday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1931, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) aired Hänsel und Gretel by German composer Engelbert Humperdinck (Sept. 1, 1854-Sept. 27, 1921) as the Metropolitan Opera's first full radio matinee broadcast. The matinee presentation numbered as the third of the 1931-1932 season's five performances of Humperdinck's fairy tale opera and as the opera house's 125th performance of Hänsel und Gretel.

Karl (Carl) Riedel (Oct. 6, 1827-June 3, 1888) conducted Hänsel und Gretel during the broadcast. The German conductor and composer had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Nov. 20, 1929, in the opera house's 368th performance of Lohengrin by German Romantic era composer-librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883).

Maestro Riedel's appearance in the radio broadcast marked his eighth conductorship of Hänsel und Gretel at the opera house. His first Met Opera conductorship of the Humperdinck opera had taken place Thursday, Feb. 27, 1930, in the opera's 114th Met Opera performance. His 23rd and last Met Opera Hänsel und Gretel conductorship occurred Monday, Dec. 26, 1938, in the opera's 140th Met Opera performance, which also registered as his last Met Opera performance.

Queena Mario, stage name of Queena Marian Tillotson (Aug. 21, 1896-May 28, 1951), sang Gretel in the radio matinee broadcast. The American lyric soprano had made her Met Opera debut Thursday, Nov. 30, 1922, as Micaela in the opera house's 277th performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Queena Mario's appearance as the radio broadcast's Gretel marked her 29th Met Opera performance of the role and her fifth season as Met Opera's Gretel. She sang her first Met Opera Gretel on Saturday, Nov. 5, 1927, for the opera house's 93rd Hänsel und Gretel performance. Her last Met Opera Gretel performance, which took place Monday, Dec. 26, 1938, numbered as her 43rd appearance in the Met Opera role, marked her 12th Met Opera season as Gretel and registered as her last Met Opera performance.

Editha Fleischer (April 5, 1898-1957?) sang Hänsel in the opera house's first radio matinee broadcast. The German operatic soprano had made her Met Opera debut Saturday, Nov. 6, 1926, as the First Lady in the opera house's 62nd performance of Die Zauberflöte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Editha Fleischer's radio matinee Hänsel marked her 22nd Met Opera appearance in the opera with Queena Mario and her 26th Met Opera performance as Hänsel. She added Hänsel to her Met Opera portfolio on Saturday, Nov. 5, 1927, the date of Queena Mario's first Met Opera Gretel. Editha Fleischer's last Met Opera performance as Hänsel took place Saturday, Feb. 8, 1936, in the opera house's 136th performance of Hänsel und Gretel. Her last Met Opera Hänsel performance marked her 31st appearance with Queena Mario's Gretel and her 36th Met Opera performance as Hänsel.

Henriette Wakefield (1878-Oct. 23, 1974) appeared as Gertrud, Hänsel and Gretel's mother, in the NBC radio matinee broadcast. The American mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Friday, Jan. 18, 1907, as a Youth in the opera house's premiere of Manon Lescaut by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

Henriette Wakefield's radio matinee Gertrud numbered as the 30th of her 38 Met Opera appearances in the role. She added Gertrud to her Met Opera portfolio on Saturday, Nov. 5, 1927, the date of Queena Mario's first Met Opera Gretel and Editha Fleischer's first Met Opera Hänsel. She sang her 38th and last Met Opera Gertrud on Tuesday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1934, during the opera house's 134th performance of the fairy tale opera.

Gertrud was one of Henriette Wakefield's three Met Opera Hänsel und Gretel roles. She claimed the Sandman as her first Met Opera Hänsel und Gretel role on Thursday, April 22, 1909, in the opera's 40th performance at the opera house. She tallied 14 Sandman appearances, with her 14th and last Met Opera Sandman being sung Thursday, March 7, 1912, in the opera's 67th Met Opera performance. She added her third Met Opera Hänsel und Gretel role, as the Witch, on Tuesday, April 8, 1930, in the opera house's 116th Hänsel und Gretel performance. She sang her second and last Humperdinck Witch on Friday, Dec. 30, 1932, during the opera's 129th Met Opera performance.

Gustav Schützendorf (1883-April 27, 1937) sang the radio matinee broadcast's Peter, the children's father. The German baritone had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Nov. 17, 1922, as Faninal in the opera house's 28th performance of Der Rosenkavalier by German composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949).

Gustav Schützendorf's radio broadcasted Peter numbered as the 22nd of his 29 Met Opera appearances in the role. He had added Peter to his Met Opera portfolio on Saturday, Nov. 5, 1927, the date of Queena Mario's first Met Opera Gretel and Editha Fleischer's first Met Opera Hänsel. He sang his 29th and last Met Opera Peter on Tuesday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1934, in the opera's 134th Met Opera performance.

Dorothee Manski (March 11, 1895-Feb. 24, 1967) sang the Witch in Met Opera's first radio matinee broadcast. The German-born American operatic soprano reprised the role in which she had made her Met Opera debut, Saturday, Nov. 5, 1927, in the opera's 93rd Met Opera performance.

Dorothee Manski claimed her 32nd Met Opera Humperdinck Witch performance in the opera house's first radio matinee broadcast. She sang her Met Opera debut role in 46 performances. She offered her 46th and last Met Opera Humperdinck Witch on Monday, Dec. 26, 1938, in the opera's 140th Met Opera performance. Her last Humperdinck Witch appearance at the opera house coincided with the last Met Opera performances by conductor Karl Riedel and Queena Mario.

Dorothea Flexer (1901-1989) sang the radio broadcast's Sandman. The American contralto had made her Met Opera debut March 5, 1926, as Madelon in the opera house's 32nd performance of Andrea Chénier by Italian verismo (“realism”) composer Umberto Giordano (Aug. 28, 1867-Nov. 12, 1948).

Dorothea Flexer's radio-broadcasted Sandman numbered as her 17th Met Opera performance in the role. She had added Humperdinck's Sandman to her Met Opera portfolio on Saturday, April 7, 1928, in the opera's 102nd Met Opera performance. She sang her 24th and last Met Opera Humperdinck Sandman on Saturday, Feb. 8, 1936, during the opera's 136th Met Opera performance.

Pearl Besuner (Nov. 4, 1901- Oct. 2, 1991) appeared as the Dew Fairy in Met Opera's first full opera radio broadcast. The American operatic soprano had made her Met Opera debut Saturday, Dec. 1, 1928, as Siebel in the opera house's 369th performance of Faust by 19th-century French composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

Pearl Besuner's radio-broadcasted Dew Fairy was sung in her third Met Opera performance in the role. She had added the Dew Fairy to her Met Opera portfolio on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1931, in the opera's 123rd Met Opera performance. Her Met Opera Dew Fairy career comprised 14 performances. She sang her 14th and last Met Opera Dew Fairy on Monday, Dec. 26, 1938, in the opera's 140th Met Opera performance, which also marked last Met Opera performances by Karl Riedel and Queena Mario.

The next day, Saturday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1931, NBC aired Acts III and IV of Norma by 19th-century Italian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini (Nov. 3, 1801-Sept. 23, 1835). Norma marked the first Saturday matinee broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera and also commemorated the 100th anniversary of the opera's first production, Monday, Dec. 26, 1831, at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Lombardy region, north central Italy.

The takeaways for Queena Mario as Gretel in Met Opera's first broadcast, Friday, Dec. 25, 1931, are that the event launched the first season of the opera house's still active, popular weekly outreach; that the radio matinee broadcast captured Hänsel und Gretel's third 1931-1932 season performance and 125th career Met Opera performance; that Queena Mario (Gretel), Editha Fleischer (Hänsel), Gustav Schützendorf (Peter) and Henriette Wakefield (Gertrud) reprised roles added to their Met Opera portfolios on the same date, Saturday, Nov. 5, 1927; that Henriette Wakefield's Gertrud was the second of three Hänsel und Gretel roles in her Met Opera portfolio; and that airing of the last two acts of Bellini's Norma on the next day, Dec. 26, 1931, marked the opera house's first Saturday broadcast.

NBC's second Met Opera radio broadcast, on Saturday, Dec. 26, 1931, aired the last two acts of Bellini's Norma, with American operatic soprano Rosa Ponselle (Jan. 22, 1897-May 25, 1981) in the 28th of her 29 Met Opera performances of the title role: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter May 25, 2017

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Arakelyan, Ashot. "Gustav Schützendorf (Baritone) (b Cologne, 1883; d Berlin, 27 April 1937)." Forgotten Opera Singers. Aug 8, 2015.
Available @ http://forgottenoperasingers.blogspot.com/2015/08/gustav-schutzendorf-baritone-b-cologne.html

Browner, Christopher. "Spirit of Radio." The Metropolitan Opera > Discover > Articles.
Available @ https://www.metopera.org/discover/articles/spirit-of-radio/

"Debut: Dorothea Flexer." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 92660 Andrea Chénier {32} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/5/1926.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=92660

"Debut: Editha Fleischer." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 94060 New production Die Zauberflöte {62} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/6/1926.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=94060

"Debut: Karl Riedel." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 103310 Lohengrin {368} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/20/1929.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=103310

"Debut: Pearl Besuner." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 100450 Faust {369} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/1/1928.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=100450

"Debut: Queena Mario." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 82200 Carmen {277} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/30/1922.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=82200

"Debuts: Freida Altmann, Miriam Cardoza, Margaret Dunlap, Anna Gress, Margaret Sumner, Henriette Wakefield." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 38550 Metropolitan Opera Premiere In the presence of the composer Manon Lescaut {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/18/1907.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=38550

"Debuts: Mildred Parisette, Dorothee Manski." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 97060 United States Premiere (Violanta) New Production (Hänsel und Gretel) Violanta {1} Hänsel und Gretel {93} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/5/1927. (United States Premiere).
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=97060

"Debuts: Paul Bender, Gustav Schützendorf, Muriel Tindal, Augusto Monti, Wilhelm von Wymetal." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 82040 Der Rosenkavalier {28} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/17/1922.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=82040

Marriner, Derdriu. "Anima Allegra's 10th, Last Met Opera Performance Was March 28, 1924." Earth and Space News. Monday, May 3, 2021.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/05/anima-allegras-10th-last-met-opera.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Queena Mario Sang Her 10th and Last Met Opera Juliette on Feb. 3, 1933." Earth and Space News. Monday, May 10, 2021.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/05/queena-mario-sang-her-10th-and-last-met.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Queena Mario Sang Her 43rd and Last Met Opera Gretel on Dec. 26, 1938." Earth and Space News. Monday, May 17, 2021.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/05/queena-mario-sang-her-43rd-and-last-met.html

"Matinee Broadcast Acts III, IV Norma." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 109700 Norma {34} Matinee Broadcast ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 12/26/1931. Broadcast (Broadcast [Acts III, IV]).
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=109700

"Matinee Broadcast: Hänsel und Gretel." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 109680 Hänsel und Gretel {125} Pagliacci {304} Matinee Broadcast ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 12/25/1931. Broadcast December 25, 1931 Matinee Broadcast.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=109680

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "First Matinee Broadcast December 25, 1931 NBC broadcasts Humperdink's 'Hänsel und Gretel', the first complete broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera." Facebook. March 19, 2012.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/20807115532/posts/10151394147405533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "#TBT This 1931 performance of Hänsel und Gretel marked the Met's first Saturday matinee radio broadcast. Hansel and Gretel returns in an English-language, holiday presentation this December. bit.ly/2vwlxbQ Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera Archives." Facebook. Aug. 3, 2017.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/10159249548425533

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "#TBT To the 1927 production of Norma starring Rosa Ponselle. Bellini's Norma opens the 17-18 season on 9/25. More: http://bit.ly/2qkjAZX." Twitter. May 25, 2017.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/867837992756363264

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "#TBT To the 1927 production of Bellini’s Norma starring soprano Rosa Ponselle in the title role. The 17–18 season opens on Sept. 25 with a new production of Norma starring Sondra Radvanovsky and Joyce DiDonato. bit.ly/2qkjAZX. Photo courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera Archives." Facebook. May 25, 2017.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10158858118580533/?type=3

"Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Hänsel und Gretel." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 36030 Metropolitan Opera Premiere in the presence of the composer Hänsel und Gretel {1} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/25/1905.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=360300

"New Production Hänsel und Gretel." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 97060 United States Premiere (Violanta) New Production (Hänsel und Gretel) Violanta {1} Hänsel und Gretel {93} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/5/1927. (United States Premiere).
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=97060

warren smith. "Pearl Besuner." Find A Grave > Find A Grave Memorial 106677477. March 13, 2013.
Available @ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106677477/pearl-besuner

Monday, May 17, 2021

Queena Mario Sang Her 43rd and Last Met Opera Gretel on Dec. 26, 1938

Summary: Queena Mario sang her 43rd and last Met Opera Gretel on Monday, Dec. 26, 1938, over 11 years after she first added Gretel to her Met Opera portfolio.

Editha Fleischer (left) as Hänsel and Queena Mario (right) as Gretel in Met Opera's Hänsel und Gretel; production designed by father-daughter team of Joseph Urban and Gretel Urban: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Aug. 3, 2017

Queena Mario sang her 43rd and last Met Opera Gretel on Monday, Dec. 26, 1938, approximately 11 years one and one-half months after she first added the role to her Met Opera portfolio.

Queena Mario, stage name of Queena Marian Tillotson (Aug. 21, 1896-May 28, 1951), sang Gretel as the first of her two new Met Opera season 1927-1928 roles and as her first and last role in the 1927-1928 season. The American lyric soprano had made her Met Opera debut Thursday, Nov. 30, 1922, as Micaela in the opera house's 277th performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

The Metropolitan Opera House's 1927-1928 season staging of Hänsel und Gretel by German composer Engelbert Humperdinck (Sept. 1, 1854-Sept. 27, 1921) opened Saturday, Nov. 5, 1927, as a new production. Wilhelm von Wymetal (1862-Nov. 11, 1937) directed the new production. The Viennese stage director had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Nov. 17, 1922, in the opera house's 28th performance of Der Rosenkavalier by German composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949).

The father-daughter team of Austrian American scenic designer Joseph Urban (May 26, 1872-July 10, 1933) and Austrian American costume designer Gretel Urban (Jan. 7, 1898-Dec. 6, 1997) designed the new production. Joseph Urban had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Nov. 17, 1917, in the opera house's 294th performance of Faust by French composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893). Gretel Urban had made her Met Opera debut Dec. 23, 1920, in the opera house's premiere of Don Carlo by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

In Hänsel und Gretel's Metropolitan Opera premiere season, 1927-1928, the opera received 12 performances. Queena Mario sang the female title role in 10 performances: the season's first (Saturday, Nov. 5), third through fifth (Tuesday, Nov. 15; Monday, Nov. 21; Friday, Dec. 9) and seventh through 12th, closing (Monday, Dec. 26; Wednesday, Jan. 4, 1928; Tuesday, Feb. 7; Saturday, April 7; Wednesday, April 25; Friday, May 4) performances.

Artur Bodanzky (Dec. 16, 1877-Nov. 23, 1939) and Giuseppe Bamboschek (June 12, 1890-June 24, 1969) shared the conductorship of the 1927-1928 season's performances of Hänsel und Gretel. They numbered as the first two of three conductors of the 43 Hänsel und Gretel performances in Queena Mario's Met Opera portfolio.

Maestro Bodanzky's conductorship of the season's first nine Hänsel und Gretel performances overlapped with seven of Queena Mario's appearances. The Austrian-American Jewish conductor had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Nov. 18, 1915, in the opera house's 85th performance of Götterdämmerung by German Romantic era composer-librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883).

Maestro Bamboschek's conductorship of the season's last three Hänsel und Gretel performances coincided with Queena Mario's last three 1927-1928 season appearances as Gretel. The Italian-American opera conductor and pianist had made his Met Opera stage debut Saturday, March 23, 1918, as an accompanist in the opera house's world premiere of The Robin Woman: Shanewis by 20th-century American composer Charles Wakefield Cadman (Dec. 24, 1881-Dec. 30, 1946). He had made his Met Opera conducting debut Saturday, Dec. 20, 1919, in the opera house's 311th performance of Gounod's Faust.

In her first season as Gretel, Queena Mario sang with three of her four Met Opera career Hänsels. Queena Mario's first Hänsel, Editha Fleischer (April 5, 1898-1957?), joined her in seven performances (first, fourth, fifth, eighth, 10th through 12th). The German operatic soprano had made her Met Opera debut Saturday, Nov. 6, 1926, as the First Lady in the opera house's 62nd performance of Die Zauberflöte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Queena Mario's second Hänsel, Ina Bourskaya (Sept. 9, 1886-June 25, 1954), shared two Hänsel und Gretel performances (third, seventh) with Queena's Gretel in the 1927-1928 season. The Ukrainian-born Russian, then naturalized American mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Friday, March 2, 1923, in the title role in the opera house's 280th performance of Bizet's Carmen.

Queena Mario's third Hänsel, Ellen Dalossy, added the role to her Met Opera portfolio with only one career appearance as Hänsel, in the season's ninth Hänsel und Gretel performance. The Prague-born Jewish soprano had made her Met Opera debut Friday, Dec. 10, 1920, as a Flower Maiden in the opera house's 91st performance of Wagner's Parsifal.

Queena Maro reprised Gretel in 11 seasons over the next decade. Her first reprisal took place in the following season, 1928-1929. She sang Gretel in five (Saturday, Nov. 3, 1928; Tuesday, Dec. 18; Friday, Jan. 11, 1929; Wednesday, Feb. 20; Monday, May 6) of the season's seven performances. Her second reprisal claimed all five of the 1929-1930 season's Hänsel und Gretel performances.

In her third reprisal, she sang Gretel in all six of the 1930-1931 season's Hänsel und Gretel performances. Queena Mario's third reprisal season introduced the third and last of her three Hänsel und Gretel conductors, Karl (Carl) Riedel (Oct. 6, 1827-June 3, 1888). The German conductor and composer had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Nov. 20, 1929, in the opera house's 368th performance of Wagner's Lohengrin.

Her fourth reprisal logged all five of the 1931-1932 season's Hänsel und Gretel performances. In her fifth reprisal, Queena Mario appeared in three (Monday, Dec. 26, 1932; Friday, Dec. 30; Monday, Jan. 30, 1933) of the 1932-1933 season's four Hänsel und Gretel performances. Her sixth reprisal claimed both of the 1933-1934 season's Hänsel und Gretel performances. Queena Mario marked her seventh Gretel reprisal with the 1934-1935 season's solitary Hänsel und Gretel performance. In her eighth Gretel reprisal season, she appeared in both of the 1935-1936 season's Hänsel und Gretel performances.

Queena Mario's ninth reprisal season registered her 40th and 41st Gretel with her appearances in both of the 1936-1937 season's Hänsel und Gretel performances. Her ninth reprisal season introduced her fourth and last Hänsel, Irene Jessner (Aug. 28, 1901-Jan. 10, 1994). The Austrian-born Canadian soprano had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Dec. 21, 1936, as Ortlinde in the opera house's 282nd performance of Wagner's Die Walküre.

Her 42nd Gretel occurred in her 10th reprisal, in the 1937-1938 season's solitary Hänsel und Gretel performance.

Queena Mario sang her 43rd and last Met Opera Gretel in her 11th reprisal season. Her appearance in the 1938-1939 season's solitary performance, Monday, Dec. 26, 1938, marked her last Met Opera performance and conductor Karl Riedel's last Met Opera performance.

Queena Mario's first Hänsel, Editha Fleischer, and third Hänsel und Gretel conductor, Karl Riedel, logged the most appearances with her. Editha Fleischer sang 31 Hänsels with Queena's Gretel over nine seasons (seasons 1927-1928 through 1935-1936). Karl Riedel conducted 22 of Queena's performances over 10 seasons (seasons 1929-1930 through 1938-1939).

Queena Mario's second Hänsel, Ina Bourskaya, sang seven Hänsels over three seasons (1927-1928, 1929-1930, 1931-1932). Her third Hänsel, Ellen Dalossy, claimed one performance, only in Queena Mario's first season as Gretel. Her fourth Hänsel, Irene Jessner, shared Queena Mario's last four Gretel performances, in seasons 1936-1937 through 1938-1939.

Queena Mario's first Hänsel und Gretel conductor, Artur Bodanzky, conducted 17 of her 43 Hänsel und Gretel performances, in four seasons (seasons 1927-1928 through 1930-1931). Giuseppe Bamboschek, Queena Mario's second Hänsel und Gretel conductor, held the baton for four performances, in two seasons (1927-1928, 1928-1929). His fourth Hänsel und Gretel conductorship, on Monday, May 6, 1929, in Queena Mario's first Gretel reprisal season, marked his last Met Opera performance.

The takeaways for Queena Mario's 43rd and last Met Opera performance as Humperdinck's Gretel are that the American lyric soprano's 43 Juliette performances occurred in 12 seasons; that she sang with three conductors (Artur Bodanzky, Giuseppe Bamboschek, Karl Riedel); that Karl Riedel conducted 22 of her Gretel performances; that she sang with four Hänsels (Editha Fleischer, Ina Bourskaya, Ellen Dalossy, Irene Jessner); and that Editha Fleischer sang 31 Hänsels to Queena Mario's Gretel.

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

German conductor and composer Karl Riedel conducted 22 of Queena Mario's 43 Hänsel und Gretel performances; undated photograph of Hänsel und Gretel conductor Karl Riedel by Leipzig, Germany-based photographer August Brasch; Bergen Public Library Norway (Bergen Offentlige Bibliotek): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carl_Riedel_portrait_(9782286246).jpg; No known copyright restrictions, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/37381115@N04/9782286246

For further information:

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Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=76290

"Debut: Giuseppe Bamboschek." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 73410 Faust {311} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/20/1919.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=73410

“Debut: Gretel Urban.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 76450 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Don Carlo {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/23/1920.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=76450

"Debut: Ina Bourskaya." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 83470 Carmen {280} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/2/1923.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=83470

"Debuts: Angela Gorman, Norman Bel Geddes, Ottokar Bartik, Giuseppe Bamboschek (Stage Debut)." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 68550 World Premiere (The Robin Woman: Shanewis) World Premiere (The Dance in Place Congo) The Robin Woman: Shanewis {1} The Dance in Place Congo {1} L'Oracolo {14} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 03/23/1918. (World Premiere).
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=68550

"Debuts: Julia Heinrich, Artur Bodanzky, Jan Heythekker." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 61030 Götterdämmerung {85} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/18/1915.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=61030

"Debuts: Kerstin Thorborg, Irene Jessner." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 120000 Die Walküre {282} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/21/1936. Opening Night {52} Edward Johnson, General Manager.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=120000

“Debuts: Thomas Chalmers, Pierre Monteux, Joseph Urban.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 67050 New production Faust {294} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/17/1917.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=67050

Jaffe, Jean. "Jews In the Citadel of American Opera." The Reform Advocate⁩⁩, vol. LXXX, no. 15 (Nov. 8, 1930): 365-366, 380-381.
Available @ https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/refadv/1930/11/08/01/article/19/

Lenahan, Peter. "Giuseppe Maria Bamboschek." Find a Grave > Find a Grave Memorial 121868071. Dec. 17, 2013.
Available @ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121868071/giuseppe-maria-bamboschek

Marriner, Derdriu. "Queena Mario Sang Her 10th and Last Met Opera Juliette on Feb. 3, 1933." Earth and Space News. Monday, May 17, 2021.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/05/queena-mario-sang-her-10th-and-last-met.html

Rife, Sue. "Ina Korzeniowski Bourskaya." Find A Grave > Find a Grave Memorial 52243314. May 11, 2010.
Available @ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52243314/ina-boynton

The Sembrich @The_Sembrich. "Our collection contains a number of gifts given to Madame Sembrich. This incense holder was a gift from her student Queena Mario, who taught alongside her teacher at the @JuilliardSchool and the @CurtisInstitute. Camera: Sembrich and Mario at Bay View, ca 1922. #History #TheSembrich." Twitter. Nov. 5, 2020.
Available @ https://twitter.com/The_Sembrich/status/1324398625452138497

The Sembrich @The_Sembrich. "Queena Mario, soprano and student of Mme. Sembrich, taught @CurtisInstitute students and sang on the @MetOpera stage over 300 times! #TheSembrich #LakeGeorge #BoltonLanding #GlensFalls #Saratoga #AlbanyNY #Adirondacks #LakePlacid #UpstateNY #ClassicalMusic #opera #music #culture." Twitter. Dec. 19, 2018.
Available @ https://twitter.com/The_Sembrich/status/1075347553732972544

The Woodlawn Cemetery & Conservancy @WoodlawnCemNY. "A renowned opera singer, #WoodlawnConnection Queena Mario made her debut at the Met in 1922. She became one of the nation’s premier voice teachers and a successful author of mystery fiction. In her books, like 'Murder Meets Mephisto,' her characters were opera performers." Twitter. March 26, 2020.
Available @ https://twitter.com/hashtag/WoodlawnConnection?src=hashtag_click