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Eileen Farrell

Eileen Farrell (February 13, 1920 – March 23, 2002) was an American soprano who had a nearly 60-year-long career performing both classical and popular music in concerts, theatres, on radio and television, and on disc. NPR noted, "She possessed one of the largest and most radiant operatic voices of the 20th century." While she was active as an opera singer, her concert engagements far outnumbered her theatrical appearances. Her career was mainly based in the United States, although she did perform internationally. The Daily Telegraph stated that she "was one of the finest American sopranos of the 20th century; she had a voice of magnificent proportions which she used with both acumen and artistry in a wide variety of roles." And described as having a voice "like some unparalleled phenomenon of nature. She is to singers what Niagara is to waterfalls."

Farrell began her career in 1940 as a member of the CBS Chorus on CBS Radio. In 1941 CBS Radio offered Farrell her own program, Eileen Farrell Sings, on which she performed both classical and popular music for 5 years. In 1947 she launched her career as a concert soprano and nine years later began performing on the opera stage. The pinnacle of her opera career was five seasons performing at the Metropolitan Opera from 1960 to 1966. She continued to perform and record both classical and popular music throughout her career, and is credited for releasing the first successful crossover album: I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues (1960). After announcing her retirement from performance in 1986, she still continued to perform and record music periodically up into the late 1990s. She was also active as a voice teacher, both privately and for nine years at Indiana University.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 13, 1920 (Willimantic), Died March 23, 2002 (Park Ridge)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1944 - 1947

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 D7VB-1928 10-in. 10/27/1947 The merry widow waltz Al Goodman Orchestra ; Eileen Farrell ; Charles Fredericks Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor D7VB-1929 10-in. 10/27/1947 Vilia Al Goodman Orchestra ; Eileen Farrell Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor D7VB-1931 10-in. 10/27/1947 Are you going to dance? Al Goodman Orchestra ; Eileen Farrell ; Charles Fredericks Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor D7VB-1942 10-in. 10/28/1947 Say not love is a dream Al Goodman Orchestra ; Eileen Farrell ; Charles Fredericks Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor D7VB-1943 10-in. 10/28/1947 Love is a pilgrim Al Goodman Orchestra ; Eileen Farrell ; Charles Fredericks Female-male vocal duet, with instrumental ensemble vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 72139 10-in. 5/18/1944 Kiss me again Eileen Farrell vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 72140 10-in. 5/18/1944 A kiss in the dark Eileen Farrell vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 72331 10-in. 6/30/1944 A kiss in the dark Eileen Farrell vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 72332 10-in. 6/30/1944 Kiss me again Eileen Farrell vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 72429 10-in. 10/13/1944 Always Eileen Farrell vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 72760 10-in. 3/6/1945 It doesn't cost you anything to dream Wilbur Evans ; Eileen Farrell vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 72761 10-in. 3/6/1945 Carousel in the park Eileen Farrell vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 72769 10-in. 3/9/1945 April snow Eileen Farrell vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 73085 10-in. 10/9/1945 Bless this house Eileen Farrell vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 73086 10-in. 10/9/1945 Let my song fill your heart Eileen Farrell vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 73153 10-in. 11/23/1945 Moonbeams Eileen Farrell vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 73154 10-in. 11/23/1945 Because you're you Eileen Farrell ; Felix Knight vocalist, soprano vocal  
Decca 73155 10-in. 11/23/1945 In the isle of our dreams Eileen Farrell ; Felix Knight vocalist, soprano vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Farrell, Eileen," accessed November 10, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104485.

Farrell, Eileen. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 10, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104485.

"Farrell, Eileen." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 10 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104485

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