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Anna Case

Anna Case (October 29, 1887 - January 7, 1984) was an American operatic lyric soprano. She recorded with Thomas Alva Edison, who used her voice extensively in "tone tests" of whether a live audience could tell the difference between the actual singer and a recording. In addition to recordings for Edison Records on both phonograph cylinder and Diamond Disc, Case recorded for Victor and Columbia Records, and made sound film for Vitaphone.

She was born in Clinton, New Jersey, on October 29, 1887. and educated by vocal trainer Augusta Öhrström-Renard in New York. She made her debut in 1909 at the New Theatre in New York as the Dutch Boy in Werther, and from 1909–1916 was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Company. In first American performances, she created the roles of Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier (1913) and Feodor in Boris Godunov (1913). She sang Olympia in Tales of Hoffmann, Mimi in La Boheme, and Micaela in Carmen.

She wrote music and lyrics to several songs during the 1910s and '20s. She made her film debut in the 1919 silent drama film The Hidden Truth, and sang one of her original songs in the 1926 Vitaphone short La Fiesta. She also appeared in documentaries about sound recording. In 1930 she recorded "Just Awearyin' for You" by Frank Lebby Stanton and Carrie Jacobs-Bond.

On July 18, 1931, she married ITT Corporation executive Clarence H. Mackay at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Roslyn, New York, and retired from the stage shortly afterwards. She began write songs more prolifically in 1936, penning over 50 in two years, and sang occasionally at social events. Her husband died in November, 1938, and Case died in New York City on January 7, 1984. Upon her death she bequeathed her 167.97-carat (33.59 g) Colombian emerald ring and Cartier necklace containing more than 2,000 diamonds, 35 emeralds and an oval cabochon-cut Columbian emerald of 167.97 carat to the Smithsonian Institution.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 1, 1888 (Clinton), Died January 7, 1984 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1913 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal, composer, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 120 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-13131 12-in. 4/16/1913 Du also bist mein Braütigam? Johanna Gadski Soprano vocal solo, with female vocal trio and orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W147150 10-in. 11/2/1928 My pretty Jane (The bloom is on the rye) Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W147428 10-in. 11/2/1928 My laddie Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W148185 10-in. 4/5/1929 The little red lark Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W148186 10-in. 4/5/1929 Doreen Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W148501 10-in. 5/10/1929 Alleluia Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W148535 10-in. 5/16/1929 Care selve Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W148704 10-in. 6/18/1929 In quelle trine morbide Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W148705 10-in. 6/18/1929 Amor commanda Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W148706 10-in. 6/18/1929 Care selve Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W150128 10-in. 3/26/1930 Care selve Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W150129 10-in. 3/26/1930 Amor commanda Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W150130 10-in. 3/26/1930 In quelle trine morbide Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W150564 10-in. 6/3/1930 A perfect day Anna Case ; Carroll Hollister Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W150565 10-in. 6/3/1930 Just a-wearyin' for you Anna Case ; Carroll Hollister Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W150566 10-in. 6/3/1930 Bendemeer's stream Anna Case ; Carroll Hollister Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W150567 10-in. 6/3/1930 Would God I were the tender apple blossom Anna Case ; Carroll Hollister Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W150591 10-in. 6/13/1930 A song of India Anna Case ; Carroll Hollister Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W150592 10-in. 6/13/1930 The night wind Anna Case ; Carroll Hollister Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W150597 10-in. 6/19/1930 My mother bids me bind my hair Anna Case ; Carroll Hollister Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W150598 10-in. 6/19/1930 The lass with the delicate air Anna Case ; Carroll Hollister Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W98599 12-in. 11/8/1928 Ave Maria Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W98605 12-in. 11/8/1928 Angel's serenade Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W98606 12-in. 11/16/1928 O sleep, why dost thou leave me? Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Columbia W98607 12-in. 11/16/1928 Connais-tu le pays Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
(Results 1-25 of 120 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Case, Anna," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/108838.

Case, Anna. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/108838.

"Case, Anna." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/108838

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