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Ellen Beach Yaw

Ellen Beach Yaw (September 14, 1869 – September 9, 1947) was an American coloratura soprano, best known for her concert career and extraordinary vocal range, and for originating the title role in Arthur Sullivan's comic opera The Rose of Persia (1899).

After she undertook American and European concert tours in 1894 and 1895, Yaw was heard by Sullivan at a private concert in London and arranged for her to be cast as the lead in The Rose of Persia. Yaw received mixed reviews in the role, and Helen Carte dismissed her after less than two weeks. After further vocal studies, Yaw made her grand opera debut as Ophelia in Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet in Nice, France, in 1903 or 1904. She eventually performed about 18 leading opera roles. In 1908, she gave a single performance of the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, her only appearance there. She continued to perform on concert tours and at charitable benefits for the next several decades.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 14, 1869 (Boston), Died September 9, 1947 (Covina)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1907 - 1913

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal, composer, lyricist

= 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 C-4827 12-in. 9/23/1907 Thou brilliant bird Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-4828 12-in. 9/23/1907 My old Kentucky home Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-4829 12-in. 9/24/1907 L'amerò sarò costante Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-4830 12-in. 9/24/1907 Nightingale's song Victor Orchestra ; Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-4831 12-in. 9/24/1907 Où va la jeune Indoue? Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-4832 10-in. 9/24/1907 Swiss echo song Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-4833 12-in. 9/24/1907 The star spangled banner Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-4834 12-in. 9/25/1907 Ardon gl'incensi Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor C-4835 12-in. 9/25/1907 Le bonheur est chose légère Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with violin and piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-4836 10-in. 9/25/1907 C'est l'histoire amoureuse Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Victor B-4837 10-in. 9/25/1907 Swiss echo song Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with piano vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 2148 10-in. 2/21/1913 Home sweet home Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 2182 10-in. Mar. 1913 Bell song Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 2183 10-in. Mar. 1913 Skylark Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist, vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 2185 10-in. Mar. 1913 Polonaise Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 2197 10-in. Mar. 1912 Caro nome Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 2219 10-in. 4/10/1913 The skylark Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer, lyricist, vocalist, soprano vocal  
Edison 2220 10-in. 4/10/1913 Polonaise Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, soprano vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Yaw, Ellen Beach," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102326.

Yaw, Ellen Beach. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102326.

"Yaw, Ellen Beach." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102326

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