Nina Bertini-Humphreys

This article is about the opera singer born in Ireland before 1900; for the British film composer with a similar name, see Nina Humphreys.
Nina Bertini-Humphreys
A young white woman with long wavy hair, reclining on a bench
Nina Bertini-Humphreys
Born
Ireland
Other namesLena Bertini Humphreys, Nina Bertini-Humphrys, Nina Bertini, Nina Bertini-Humphries
Occupation(s)Actress, opera singer

Nina Bertini-Humphreys was an Irish-born operatic soprano, active in the United States in the 1890s, and in Britain and Ireland after 1900.

Early life and education

Nina Humphreys (or Humphrys) was born in Ireland.[1][2] She studied voice in Italy with Francesco Lamperti and Teresa Brambilla, and made her debut there as Amina in La sonnambula.[3][4] She used the name "Nina Bertini" early in her career on the stage,[5] then added her family name to the stage name.[6]

Career

Bertini-Humphreys was a prima donna operatic soprano.[7][8] She toured in the United States as a member of Emma Abbott's Company in the 1880s,[4][9] and of the Marie Tavary Grand English Opera Company, the Metropolitan Grand English Opera Company,[10] and the Hinrichs Grand Opera Company in the 1890s.[11] Her roles included Michaela in Carmen,[12] Gilda in Rigoletto,[13] Marguerite in Faust,[14] the title role in Mignon,[15] and Juliette in Roméo et Juliette.[16] "Miss Humphreys possesses a high soprano voice of much purity, good range and extreme flexibility, her trill being especially remarkable for its brilliancy," wrote an 1893 reviewer.[3]

Bertini endorsed Dr. Greene's Nervura Nerve Tonic in 1888.[17] Bertini-Humphreys performed in England and Ireland after 1900.[18][19][20]

References

  1. ^ "Two Artistic Singers; Voice Has Meant Money to Both of These Ladies; Nina Bertini and Alice Hosmer". The Marion Star. 1893-03-08. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "The Musical World". The Peterson Magazine. 7: 500. May 1897 – via HathiTrust.
  3. ^ a b "In Frisky Titipu". The Savannah Morning News. 1893-06-16. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "The Life of a Singer; It is not Half So Pleasant as It is Usually Painted". Akron Evening Times. 1894-02-15. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "The Bertini Concert". Yankton Press and Dakotan. 1891-09-18. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-08-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Nina Bertini Humphrys". The Pomeroy Herald. 1896-05-21. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-08-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "A Prima Donna's Suit". The San Francisco Examiner. 1896-09-11. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "At the Playhouses". The Los Angeles Times. 1896-09-16. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Music Hath Charms; The Abbott Opera Season a Success in Los Angeles". Los Angeles Evening Express. 1888-12-29. p. 13. Retrieved 2024-08-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "An Opera Company Disbands; It Gave Its Last Performance Last Night In Toronto". The New York Times. December 13, 1896. p. 5. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  11. ^ "Our Baltimore Letter". The Opera Glass. 1 (7): 102. August 1894.
  12. ^ "'Carmen' at the Grand Opera House". The Times-Picayune. 1895-02-13. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "At the Playhouses". The Los Angeles Times. 1896-09-16. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Grand Opera House". The Philadelphia Times. 1895-07-14. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Beatriz Michelena in Film, Fantasy and Fact/Walter Anthony". San Francisco Chronicle. 1915-01-16. p. 68. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Midweek Theater Notes; Crowds Go to See 'Romeo and Juliet' at the Tivoli Opera-House". The San Francisco Call and Post. 1896-07-09. p. 10. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Of interest to everybody (advertisement)". The Evening World. 1888-04-06. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-08-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Occasional Notes". The Norwood News. 1902-03-01. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "A Musical Entertainment". The Times. 1911-01-02. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-08-17 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Joseph Holloway Collection, Ancient Concert Rooms program collection, National Library of Ireland.