Gluck, Alma

Reba Heinsohn (Alma Gluck) was born in Romania on May 11th 1882. When she was a child her family immigrated to the United Estates. She began singing just by chance, when she was already mother. Years after on 1936 her daughter the writer Marcia Davenport was inspired in her mother’s life when she wrote the novel Lena Geyer.

On 1906 she began her musical training as singer a bit later as usual. On 1909 when Arturo Toscanini was the musical manager of Metropolitan Opera House, Alma Gluck signed a contract 700$, in that time a truly fortune. Her great success in this theatre were performing the roles of Sophie (Werther – Jules Massenet) and Ombra Felice (Orfeo – Gluck)

Alma Gluck probably was the first singer to get a “hit-parade”, when she bought more than one million copies of “Carry me Back to old Virginny”. She finished her career dedicate to the recital performances. Alma Gluck died prematurely on October 27th 1938, when she was only 54 years old. Now you can listen her voice with Enrico Caruso performing the famous first act Traviata’s duet. It is a recording from 1913

More information about Alma Gluck

Photograph Sandy’s Opera Gallery

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