Edith Helena

Edith Helena (1876–1956) was an American singer of the Vaudeville era, although she also sang in opera as well.

She was born in New York City under the name of Edith Helen Seymour, however her stage name was Italianised to Edith Helena. She became famous for having a singing voice spanning four octaves, which also enabled her to perform violin imitations.

She was married to the writer Napoleon Augustus Jennings (1856–1919). During the first decade of the 20th century, the couple toured Europe and the United States with him as her manager and press agent.

Recordings of Edith Helena dating as far back as 1907 survive. She can also be seen in her sole film appearance, 1935 short "Roof Tops of Manhattan", singing "I've Got Rings on My Fingers."

Birth and Death Data: Born 1876, Died 1956

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1897 - 1923

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Berliner 357 7-in. Before Apr. 1899 Annie Laurie Helen Jenynge [i.e., Edith Helena] Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Berliner 360 7-in. Oct. 1897 Comin’ thro’ the rye Helen Jennings [i.e., Edith Helena] Female vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Berliner 397 7-in. Before Apr. 1899 Lullaby Helen Jenynge [i.e., Edith Helena] Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Berliner 3654 7-in. Before Apr. 1899 Last night Helen Jennings [i.e., Edith Helena] Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Berliner 3660 7-in. Oct. 1898 Melba waltz Helen Jenynge [i.e., Edith Helena] Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Berliner 3676 7-in. 3/7/1899 Ave Maria Helen Jenynge [i.e., Edith Helena] Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-66 10-in. 6/10/1903 The star spangled banner Edith Helena Female vocal solo, with band vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-71 10-in. 6/10/1903 Se saran rose Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor A-71 7-in. 6/10/1903 Se saran rose Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-72 10-in. 6/10/1903 Ah! non giunge Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor A-72 7-in. 6/10/1903 Ah! non giunge Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-73 10-in. 6/10/1903 The last rose of summer Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor A-73 7-in. 6/10/1903 The last rose of summer Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-74 10-in. 6/10/1903 Comin' thro' the rye Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor A-74 7-in. 6/10/1903 Comin' thro' the rye Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-75 10-in. 6/10/1903 Bonnie sweet Bessie, the maid o' Dundee Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor A-75 7-in. 6/10/1903 Bonnie sweet Bessie, the maid o' Dundee Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-534 10-in. 10/9/1903 Thou brilliant bird Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor A-534 7-in. 10/9/1903 Thou brilliant bird Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-535 10-in. 10/9/1903 The swallows Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor A-535 7-in. 10/9/1903 The swallows Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-536 10-in. 10/9/1903 Jewel aria Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor A-536 7-in. 10/9/1903 Jewel aria Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor A-537 7-in. 10/9/1903 Violin imitation Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-2227 12-in. 12/3/1908 Ah! non giunge Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-2227 10-in. 2/8/1905 Ah! non giunge Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-2228 12-in. 12/19/1911 The last rose of summer Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-2228 10-in. 2/9/1905 The last rose of summer Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-2229 10-in. 2/9/1905 Jewel song Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-2230 12-in. 2/9/1905 Caro nome Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-2231 10-in. 2/9/1905 Laughing song Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-2232 10-in. 2/9/1905 Comin' thro' the rye Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-6644 12-in. 12/10/1908 The nightingale Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-6644 10-in. 12/3/1908 The nightingale Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-6645 10-in. 12/4/1908 Slattery's baby Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-6646 12-in. 12/4/1908 Cavalleria rusticana : Intermezzo Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo (violin imitation) vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-6647 10-in. 12/4/1908 Alice, where art thou? Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo (violin imitation) vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-6661 10-in. 12/10/1908 Cavalleria rusticana : Intermezzo Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo (violin imitation) vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-11396 10-in. 12/19/1911 Beloved idol Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-11397 12-in. 12/19/1911 One fine day Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-11398 10-in. 12/19/1911 What a sky Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-11399 12-in. 12/19/1911 Home, sweet home Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-11400 12-in. 12/20/1911 Ye birds without number Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-11401 12-in. 12/20/1911 Peaceful was the night Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-11402 12-in. 12/20/1911 On rosy wings Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-11407 12-in. 12/21/1911 Mad scene Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra and flute obbligato vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor [Trial 1921-11-02-01] 10-in. 11/2/1921 Comin' thro' the rye Edith Helena Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 8918 10-in. 4/11/1923 Novelty imitation medley Edith Helena Female vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 9206 10-in. 10/16/1923 Then you'll remember me Edith Helena Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Helena, Edith," accessed November 24, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107857.

Helena, Edith. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107857.

"Helena, Edith." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107857

External Sources

Wikipedia: Edith Helena

IMDb: Edith Helena

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Helena, Edith, 1876-1956 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n99035181

Wikidata: Edith Helena - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q5338565

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/43631274

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1966524

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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