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 (Results 1-25 of 49 records)

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  
(Results 1-25 of 49 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Helena, Edith," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107857.

Helena, Edith. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/107857.

"Helena, Edith." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 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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