Mary Kaestner

Mary Kaestner (died after March 1944), also seen as Mary Kastner, was an opera singer, a dramatic soprano with the San Carlo Opera Company.

Mary Kaestner
A light-skinned woman with dark hair and eyes, wearing a costume involving a headband, a strapless bodice, and beads. She is square to the camera, and the photo is in an oval frame.
Mary Kaestner as Aïda, from a 1917 publication
NationalityAmerican
Other namesMary Kastner, Mary Peroni
OccupationOpera singer
Years active1914–1917
Known forThree seasons with the San Carlo Opera Company
SpouseCarlo Peroni

Early life

Mary Kaestner was American, from Wisconsin[1] or California,[2] though she was sometimes described as Viennese or German.[3][4]

Career

Kaestner was singing in Vienna when World War I began, and she returned to the United States.[5] She toured North America with the San Carlo Opera Company for three seasons,[6] from 1914[7] to 1917,[2] singing leading roles in Aïda,[8] Cavalleria rusticana,[9] Lohengrin, Pagliacci, Tosca, Faust, Il trovatore,[10] and La Gioconda.[11][12][13] "Mary Kaestner is one of those artists who has proved at eacch appearance that certainty and poise are her assets," commented a reviewer in 1917. "Besides her dramatic voice of unusual beauty, her acting is brilliant and brainy."[14]

Personal life

In 1917, Mary Kaestner married Italian opera conductor Carlo Peroni,[1] and retired from her stage career, saying "one famous person in a family is enough."[15] She survived as his widow when Peroni died in 1944.[16][17]

References
  1. "Opera Conductor has Warm Place in his Heart for City". The Minneapolis Star. 1934-11-16. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-05-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "American Prima Donna with San Carlo Opera". Musical America. 25: 45. November 25, 1916.
  3. "Mme. Mary Kaestner, Dramatic Soprano with San Carlo Company". The Salina Daily Union. 1916-02-01. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-05-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Only German Artist with the San Carlo Grand Opera Company". Des Moines Tribune. 1916-01-05. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-05-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Mary Kaestner to Sing Lead in 'Aida'; She is Rated as One of the World's Greatest Songbirds". St. Joseph Gazette. 1917-01-24. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-05-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Mary Kaestner, San Carlo, Prima Donna, Has Scored Many Artistic Successes". The Daily Ardmoreite. 1917-11-18. p. 12. Retrieved 2020-05-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Grand Opera Pleasing and Well Given". The Daily Times. 1915-12-30. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  8. "German Prima Donna Has 'Aida' Role with San Carlo Company". The La Crosse Tribune. 1915-12-29. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-05-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "She's a Stellar Santuzza". The Buffalo Times. 1915-11-11. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-05-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Mary Kaestner, Dramatic Soprano, Will Play Leonora in Il Trovatore Offered by San Carlo Opera Company Here This Year". The Topeka State Journal. 1917-10-06. p. 10. Retrieved 2020-05-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Mary Kaestner Wins Laurels as San Carlo Star" Musical America (February 10, 1917): 39.
  12. "Mary Kaestner Wins Favor in 'Aïda' and 'Cavalleria'". Musical America. 25: 27. February 17, 1917.
  13. "Present Two Operas". The Daily Times. 1915-12-31. p. 16. Retrieved 2020-05-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. de Valdor, Joseph (September 28, 1917). "Third and Last Week of the San Carlo Opera Company". Music News. 9: 22.
  15. "Mrs. Carlo Peroni Prefers Brooklyn as Home Centre". Times Union. 1929-05-26. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-05-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Carlo Peroni, Noted Concert Leader, Dies". El Paso Times. 1944-03-14. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-05-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Carlo Peroni Dies; Opera Conductor; Music Director for San Carlo Company 20 Years Began His Career Under Mascagni". The New York Times. 1944-03-13. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
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