On Tuesday, December 11, 2001 at 2:53:40 PM UTC-8, Pandora Helms wrote:
I've spent some time researching Eddy, especially his opera years--the Philadelphia papers, reviews, critics. Did a search on google re
comments on him. One long thread re the first performance of Wozzeck in
the U.S and Nelson's role as the drum major. It was at the Metropolitan
in Nov. 1931 with Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Symphony. Nelson
mde his opera debut in Jan 1922 at the age of 20 as the king of Greece
in The Marriage Tax.The critic for the Philadelphia Publc Ledger wrote "Remember the name Nelson Eddy , the young man has a voice that thrilled because of its perfect control, clear resonant tone and excetional
quality". He signed with the Philadelphia Civic Opera 2 years later,
and became the Golden Boy of the Opera and audiences alike. Philadelpha Record 2-12-25 "Mr. Eddy was a star from the moment he stepped on stage" Conductors like Stokowski and Toscanini began using Nelson , and in
1931, he sang 8 roles during opera season and had a repertoire of 33
operatic roles. He was so popular that he easily survived a scandal,
when he had an affair with maybelle Marsten, a soprano, whose husband
sued for divorce and custody of their child. The critcs' praise
continued, and since Nelson looked against type as an opera singer(being neither Italian, stout or short) often included his phyisical
appearance. He was, noted some critics "tall, slender, blond and blue
eyed"
Nelson began his concert career in 1928; in conjunction with opera. He
made 2 trips to Europe in th 20's to study in France and Germany. He was offered a contract with the Dresden Opera, but turned it down. He was appearing at a concert in LA in 1933, and a producer form MGM heard him
sing, and offered him a contract. Nelson thought movie exposure would
give him bigger concert audiences--which it did--he never expected the tremendous hit that Naughty Marietta turned out to be. He was then
offered a contract with the Metropolitan which he turned down (much to
his regret later in life) But, by then he had met Jeanette, and their on again off again obsession that lasted 30 years till her death, and his 2 years later. His last opera appearance was in San Francisco 1935, as
Amonsaro in Aida. The San Francisco Examiner wrote "He is one of the
great voices of the century, suave, aristocratic, yet as forceful as the music demands." He never wanted to be remembered for the films, but for concerts and opera.
In 1953, he appeared on the tv program WHAT'S MY LINE?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igoK00ojn5Q
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