Jean Tennyson

Jean Tennyson (c. 1905 – March 16, 1991), also known by her married names Jean Tennyson Dreyfus and Jean Tennyson Boissevain, was an American soprano, musical theatre actress, philanthropist, and radio personality. She began her career performing in musicals and cabaret shows in Chicago; making her stage debut in 1919. She made her Broadway debut in the chorus of Albert Von Tilzer's 1923 musical Adrienne; ultimately taking over the title role four months into the shows run and performing that part on tour in 1924. After starring in the Broadway musical revue The Earl Carroll Vanities in 1928 and 1929, her career shifted towards opera and work as a concert soprano. She was a leading soprano in operas and concerts internationally from the 1930s through the 1940s, performing on the stages of opera houses like La Scala, La Fenice, the Vienna Volksoper, the Chicago Civic Opera and the San Francisco Opera.

Tennyson's first marriage was to the Swiss chemist and founder of American Celanese Corporation Camille Dreyfus, whose company sponsored the 1940s CBS Radio program The Celanese Hour, better known as Great Moments in Music; a weekly program hosted by Tennyson from 1942-1946 which featured her interviewing and performing with notable musicians of the period. Following Dreyfus's death in 1956, Tennyson became the president of The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation through which she oversaw numerous philanthropic causes in the sciences. She also used her significant fortune to support arts organizations internationally, including the New York Philharmonic and the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and aid in the artistic training and careers of young musicians. She was the recipient of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity and the St. Olav's Medal by the King of Norway. Her second marriage was to Ernest William Boissevain (1898-1984).

Birth and Death Data: Born 1905, Died 1991

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1930 - 1931

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
Victor BVE-67766 10-in. 1/7/1931 Carry me back to old Virginny Jean Tennyson Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor BVE-67767 10-in. 1/7/1931 The last rose of summer Jean Tennyson Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor CVE-67768 12-in. 1/7/1931 Ballatella Jean Tennyson Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor CVE-67769 12-in. 1/7/1931 Addio Jean Tennyson Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor BVE-67770 10-in. 1/7/1931 My hero Jean Tennyson Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor BVE-Test-460 10-in. 10/21/1930 Giannina mia Jean Tennyson Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tennyson, Jean," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/115582.

Tennyson, Jean. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/115582.

"Tennyson, Jean." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/115582

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