Nina Dimitrieff

Nina Dimitrieff (born 1880s – died after 1952), also seen as Nina Dmitrieff and later as Nina Massell, was a Russian soprano singer, active in the United States after 1910.

Nina Dimitrieff, from a 1913 festival program.
Nina Dimitrieff, from a 1916 publication.

Early life

Nina Dmitrieff self-reported as being born in Saint Petersburg in August 1881 or 1882, to Pheophan Dimitrieff and Baroness Alexandria Von Russell.[1][2][3]

She was described in publicity as "daughter of the famous Russian general Pheophan Dimitrieff", and educated at Smolny Convent in Saint Petersburg, where she was a schoolmate of Elena of Montenegro.[4][5]

Career

Dimitrieff made her American debut[6] as Margarita in The Damnation of Faust at the 1910 Worcester Music Festival.[7] In that same year, the New York Times opined that "Her voice is not notable for fine quality, being, in fact, somewhat hard and unyielding; nor is she equally successful in many different styles of songs."[8]

In 1911, she sang in California with other Russian musicians,[9] and sang at concert conducted by Leopold Stokowski,[5] and sang at a fundraiser for tuberculosis prevention in Pittsburgh.[10] In 1913 Dimitrieff sang at "Verdi Night" at the May Festival of the Albany Musical Association,[11] and gave a joint recital with Russian cellist Vladimir Dubinsky at New York's Aeolian Hall.[12]

She returned to Aeolian Hall with a recital of Russian traditional songs in 1916, at which she also wore Russian costumes and gave a lecture on the history of Russian church music and folksongs.[13][14] Also in 1916, she and other Russian artists including Mischa Levitzki, Anna Pavlova, and a balalaika orchestra performed at a benefit in Connecticut, for Russian prisoners of war.[15]

Dimitrieff made several recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1916.[16] Later in life, she taught voice classes, and accompanied other concert performers on piano.[17]

Personal life

Nina Dimitrieff married Jacob (James) Massell, a voice teacher and writer, in New York in June 1910.[1][3][18] They continued living in New York through at least 1920.[19] She was widowed when he died in 1948 in The Bronx.[20][21] She was still alive to renew the copyright on her husband's book, To Sing or Not to Sing, in 1953.

References
  1. "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", database, FamilySearch (22 August 2022), Jacob Massell and Nina Dimitrieff, 1910.
  2. "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (10 February 2023), Nina Dimitrieff Massell, .
  3. "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (16 March 2018), Nina Mussell, 1913; citing Passport Application, New York, United States, source certificate #13273, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 634, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  4. "Fassifern Concert Course" Lincoln County News (February 18, 1913): 1. via Newspapers.comopen access
  5. "Music News of the Week" Pittsburgh Press (November 19, 1911): 16. via Newspapers.comopen access
  6. "Nina Dimitrieff Will Make Debut" Janesville Daily Gazette (September 26, 1910): 1. via Newspapers.comopen access
  7. Lester S. Butler, "The Worcester, Mass., Music Festival" Music News (October 28, 1921): 1.
  8. "Mme. Dimitrieff's Recital" New York Times (December 21, 1910): 11. via ProQuest
  9. "Symphony Artists to Appear at the Clunie Monday Evening" Sacramento Union (May 7, 1911): 2. via California Digital Newspaper Collectionopen access
  10. "Famous Singer to Help Fight the White Plague" The Gazette Times, Pittsburgh (November 26, 1911): 3. via Newspapers.comopen access
  11. Program, May Festival (1913), Albany Musical Association: 6.
  12. "Nina Dimitrieff and Vladimir Dubinsky" The Opera News (November 29, 1913): 5.
  13. "Songs with Curious History in Russian Singer's Program" and "Presents Russian Songs in Costume" Musical America (November 18, 1916): 23.
  14. "Nina Dimitrieff Sings" New York Times (November 12, 1916): 19.
  15. "Russian Artists in New Haven Benefit" Musical America (December 30, 1916): 31.
  16. Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Nina Dimitrieff (vocalist : soprano vocal)" (accessed May 6, 2018).
  17. "Flora Negri Pleases" New York Times (December 20, 1926): 28. via ProQuest
  18. "Edith Kingman Gives First of Series of Sunday Musicales" Musical America (November 29, 1919): 15.
  19. "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (2 February 2021), Nina Massell in entry for Jacob Massell, 1920.
  20. "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (13 May 2022), Nina in entry for James or Jacob Massell, 1948. Bronx, New York, New York, United States
  21. "Deaths" New York Times (December 2, 1948): 29. via ProQuest
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