Genia Fonariova, also seen as Eugenie Baron-Fonariova, was a Russian-born singer.
Early life
Genia Fonariova was born in Odessa, and began her music career in Petrograd, Russia. She also performed in Brussels and London before moving to New York City during World War I.
Career in the United States
In 1916 Fonariova was part of a program at the Manhattan Opera House with pianist Leo Ornstein and conductor Oscar Spirescu. Fonariova sang in a Russian-themed fundraising concert for Liberty Bonds in 1918, at Carnegie Hall, sharing the bill with Sergei Prokofiev, among others. She gave a recital at New York's Aeolian Hall in 1920, a performance that caused a New York Times writer to say that "Her concert was a welcome reminder that Russian music is not merely a reflection of nature, but a crystallization in art of the spirit of a great, humble people."
In 1921-1922, she toured the United States, including autumn festivals in Maine. She sang at free summer concerts in Central Park in 1924. In 1931, she gave a concert at New York's Town Hall. She was heard in radio concerts regularly in the late 1920s and through the 1930s.
She made at least three recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company.
Personal life
Fonariova became a United States citizen in 1929.
References
- "Boston to Celebrate Pilgrim Ter-centenary" Musical Monitor (April 1921): 316.
- "Concert for Russian Refugees" Musical America (June 17, 1916): 35.
- "Russian Opera in London" Daily Sketch (May 31, 1915): 4.
- ^ "Genia Fonariova Heard" New York Times(February 20, 1920): 12. via ProQuest
- "Manhattan Opera Concert" New York Times (September 11, 1916): 7. via ProQuest
- "Great Russian Liberty Concert" Musical Leader (October 24, 1918): 391.
- "Fonariova in Recital" Musical America (February 28, 1920): 47.
- "Genia Fonariova to Tour South" Musical Courier (July 7, 1921): 10.
- "Goldman Concerts in Central Park a Free Gift to New York City" New York Times (June 10, 1924): X5. via ProQuest
- "Genia Fonariova Sings" New York Times (December 7, 1931): 23. via ProQuest
- "Stars of Radioland" Hamilton Evening Journal (August 22, 1931): 7. via Newspapers.com
- "Noted Soprano Will Be Heard on Radio Tonight" Tampa Bay Times (December 8, 1928): 13. via Newspapers.com
- "Today on the Radio" New York Times (December 3, 1932): 20. via ProQuest
- Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Eugenie Fonariova (vocalist : soprano vocal)" (accessed June 7, 2018).
- Untitled news item, St. Louis Post-Dispatch (October 20, 1929): 75. via Newspapers.com
External links
- A 1916 portrait of Eugenie Fonariova, by Arnold Genthe, from the Library of Congress.