Lucrezia Bori

A longtime favorite at the Metropolitan Opera in New York (where she later became the first performer appointed to its board of directors), this delightful Spanish soprano was noted for the delicacy and piquancy of her voice.

Here she is in an excerpt from one of her most acclaimed roles, Violetta in Verdi’s La traviata, on an acoustic recording from 1915:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbDKSHR6kHE&ab_channel=allegroconmoto

Bori was also at home singing Puccini. Here she is as Butterfly in a recording from 1928:

Artist note by Richard Evidon

From the Schubert Club Archive:

Promotional flyer for Bori’s 1922 concert

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Portrait of Bori in 1921, shortly after her return to the Metropolitan Opera following a six-year recovery from vocal nodule removal surgery

Source unknown

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Program from Bori’s 1922 Schubert Club performance (featuring some last minute changes!)

From the note at the bottom, it’s clear Bori was treated to some classic Schubert Club hospitality: “To dinner for Miss Bori afterwards at Women’s Club. Took her from Club to [St. Paul] Hotel in our car with Mrs. Nixon & Mrs. Briggs.”

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