Archive Record
Images
Additional Images [19]
Metadata
Object Identification Number |
2012.003.055 |
Object Name |
Album, Photograph |
Donor |
Melchior, Ib |
Scope / Description |
A vertically oriented, red photograph album that houses images of Lauritz Melchior and the friends that gifted this album to him. The album is made of cardboard covered in red leather with approx. fifty paper pages bound together in the spine. The front cover has two decorative, metallic borders with text that reads, "KLEINCHEN AND LAURITZ / FROM / MARY AND CURT / CHRISTMAS 1948." The photos are adhered to grey paper pages with adhesive and photo corner. The photographs show Lauritz and Kleinchen at their estate "The Viking" as well as gatherings of friends. The last several pages of the album are empty. On the interior of the back cover, a stamp in red ink in seen that reads, "No. 45 / AMERICAN BINDER COMPANY / NEW YORK CITY." This photo album appears to be a gift to Lauritz Melchior and his wife Kleinchen for Christmas from friends, Mary and Curt in 1948. 12X14.25 inches ----------------------------- The Melchior Collection was donated to Dana College by Ib Melchior, the son of Lauritz Melchior. Upon the closing of Dana College in 2009, the museum director, John Mark Nielsen, began negotiations to have the collection donated to the museum. After successful negotiations, the Melchior Collection became part of the collections housed at the Museum of Danish America. All of the artifacts in this gift belonged, at one time, to Lauritz Melchior. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark on March 20, 1890, Lauritz Lebrecht Hommel Melchior was the 6th child born to Jørgen Conradt Melchior and his wife, Julie Sofie Møller. He was named for his godfather, professor Lauritz Lebrecht Hommel, a professional associate of his father. He became a renowned tenor singer in both Danish and American opera. He began his career In 1913, Melchior made his debut in the baritone role of Silvio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci" at the Royal Theatre (Det Kongelige Teater) in Copenhagen. He sang secondary roles for the following few years until he reevaluated his voice and discovered he was a tenor rather than the baritone he always sang. Melchior's second debut, in October of 1918, was in the title role of Tannhäuser at the Royal Opera in Copenhagen. Following this performance, Melchior's career grew. He held lead roles on the stages of Copenhagen, Chicago, San Francisco, Berlin, Munich, and Covent Garden in London. Melchior had two children with his first wife Inger (Nathansen) Melchior (1889-1929), a son named Ib and a daughter named Birte. Melchior and his first wife divorced, and he married his second wife, Kleinchen. Kleinchen passed away in 1963 after being married to Melchior for 37 years. Melchior also acted on the silver screen in such films as Thrill of a Romance (1945), Two Sisters from Boston (1946), This Time for Keeps (1947), Luxury Liner (1948), and The Stars Are Singing (1953). Melchior became an American citizen in 1947, and he lived in California on his estate known as "The Viking." The museum has an aerial photo of the home. Melchior died in Santa Monica, California in 1973. His body was laid to rest at the Assistens Kirkegaard cemetery in Copenhagen. |
Title |
KLEINCHEN AND LAURITZ / FROM / MARY AND CURT / CHRISTMAS 1948 |
Date |
ca. 1948 |
Dates of Creation |
circa 1948 |
Associated People |
Melchior, Lauritz Melchior, Kleinchen Mary Curt |
Search Terms |
Photograph Album Melchior, Lauritz Melchior, Kleinchen Mary Curt The Viking |
Subjects |
Melchior, Lauritz/Melchior, Kleinchen |
Date Received by Museum |
01/20/2012 |
Images |
191\2012003055.JPG |
Accession number |
2012.003 |