Genevieve Rowe

Genevieve Rowe (August 28, 1908 - February 26, 1995) was a coloratura soprano in the era of old-time radio.[1]

Genevieve Rowe
BornAugust 28, 1908 (1908-08-28)
Fremont, Ohio
DiedFebruary 26, 1995 (1995-02-27) (aged 86)
New York, New York
Alma materWooster College
Juilliard Graduate School of Opera
SpouseAlbert Payson Hill

Early years

Rowe was born in Fremont, Ohio.[1] In her hometown of Wooster, Ohio,[2] both of her parents were music educators; her father was dean of music at the Wooster College Conservatory, and her mother taught piano and music theory there.[3] Although she began studying piano at age 4, she eventually came to prefer singing. She was a graduate of Wooster College[4] with degrees in arts and music[5] and studied on scholarship at the Juilliard Graduate School of Opera.[3]

A 1939 newspaper article about Rowe noted, "Miss Rowe had the happy habit of winning every musical competition she entered."[3] Those contests included the 1929 Atwater Kent national auditions, the 1932 McDowell Club Award,[6] the 1933 National Federation of Music Clubs contest, and the 1938 Rising Musical Star competition on NBC radio.[3]

Rowe gained early experience in radio when she sang over WTAM while she was a student at Wooster.[5]

Career

In 1938,[7] Rowe had the role of Beauty in Vittorio Giannini's Beauty and the Beast on CBS, radio's first commissioned opera.[8] She also was one of the featured vocalists on The First American Opera Festival, a sustaining program that was broadcast on WOR in 1942. The one-hour program presented adaptations of seven operas and promoted sales of savings bonds and stamps for the U.S. Treasury Department.[9]

On radio, Rowe was the female vocalist on Gaslight Gayeties[10] and Harvest of Stars,.[3] She performed regularly on Johnny Presents,[11] the Burl Ives Coffee Club[12]: 56  and the Gay Nineties Revue.[12] Other shows on which she was heard included Melody Hall.[13]

Rowe sang with the Montreal Opera, the Westchester Philharmonic Society, and other groups.[14]

In 1947, Rowe and Glen Burris, accompanied by Paul Baron's orchestra, recorded The Student Prince Album (Majestic MZ-4), containing six discs.[15] In 1948, Rowe — along with Lillian Cornell and Lawrence Brooks, accompanied by Sigmund Romberg's orchestra and chorus — recorded Gems From Sigmund Romberg Shows Vol. II (Victor MO 1256). The album contained four discs.[16]

Personal life

Rowe was married to Albert Payson Hill, a teacher. He was a pianist who often accompanied her in concerts.[8]

References
  1. DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 233.
  2. "Rowe-ing in Harvest". Cincinnati Enquirer. Ohio, Cincinnati. July 13, 1947. p. 70. Retrieved August 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. "Miss Rowe Joins Summer Series". Naugatuck Daily News. Connecticut, Naugatuck. July 5, 1947. Retrieved August 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. "Genevieve Rowe, Soprano, to Sing in Second Community Concert Here". The Record-Argus. Pennsylvania, Greenville. March 14, 1951. p. 4. Retrieved August 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. Doran, Dorothy (December 10, 1936). "'Met' Opera Audition Opens Another Door For Genevieve Rowe". The Akron Beacon Journal. p. 28. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Genevieve Row Sings: Commands Ringing Top-Notes in Recital at Town Hall". The New York Times. December 8, 1934. p. 19. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  7. Villamil, Victoria Etnier (2004). From Johnson's Kids to Lemonade Opera: The American Classical Singer Comes of Age. UPNE. p. 16. ISBN 9781555536350. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  8. "Community Concert Soloist Radio Star". The Evening Sun. Pennsylvania, Hanover. February 26, 1952. p. 4. Retrieved August 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  9. "WOR's Lavish Opera Series Sustainer". Billboard. May 9, 1942. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  10. Secon, Paul (March 17, 1945). "How 6 Shows Pick Poppers In N.Y. Airing". Billboard. p. 13. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  11. "Sings in Radio Show". The Evening News. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. March 19, 1938. p. 14. Retrieved August 9, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  12. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 128.
  13. Burr, Eugene (October 24, 1942). "Program Reviews: Melody Hall". Billboard. p. 7. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  14. "Genevieve Rowe to Be Presented Here By Community Concert Association". The Rutherford Courier. Tennessee, Smyrna. November 14, 1952. p. 4. Retrieved July 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Classical and Semi-Classical". Billboard. August 9, 1947. p. 121. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  16. "Advance Record Releases". Billboard. September 11, 1948. p. 117. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
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