Teresa Celli

Teresa Mara Levis (June 6, 1923 – October 30, 1999), better known as Teresa Celli, was an American lyric soprano who apprenticed at La Scala before achieving recognition in films such as The Asphalt Jungle (1950) and Black Hand (1950).[1][2]

Teresa Celli
Born
Teresa Mara Levis

June 6, 1923
Dysart, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedOctober 30, 1999
Clearwater, Florida, United States
Occupation(s)Lyric soprano and actress
Notable workApprenticed at La Scala in Italy
Appeared in multiple major films, including The Asphalt Jungle, Black Hand (1950) and The Great Caruso (1951)
SpouseBarry Nelson (m. 1951–1965)

Formative years and family

Celli was born on June 6, 1923 as Teresa Levis in Dysart, Pennsylvania in the United States.[3][4][5] One of ten children born to an Italian family, she relocated with her family to Milan, Italy when she was just five years old because her father had inherited an estate there.[6] Her grandmother, Maria Scagnet, and her great-grandmother, Mme. Duval Celli, both sang opera, and it was from the latter that Teresa Levis took her professional last name, "Celli."[7][8][9]

While she lived in Italy, Celli was a student of soprano Ersilde Cervi Caroli.[7] Under his mentorship, she became active in both opera and dramatic productions.[10][11][12]

Sometime during World War II, she returned to the United States, but then returned to Italy when the war ended.[13]

She later became the first wife of actor Barry Nelson, and was married to him from 1951 to 1965.[14]

Music and film career

During the early years of her performance career, Celli was under contract with Italy's renowned opera house, La Scala.[15][16] Her American radio debut occurred on March 5, 1949, on the NBC program Star Theater with Frank Sinatra.[17][18]

Celli's film debut came in Border Incident (1949).[19]

In 1950, she appeared in The Asphalt Jungle, which was later nominated for four Academy Awards, with Gene Kelly in Black Hand and in Right Cross with Ricardo Montalbán.[20][21] Under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, she was subsequently given a leave of absence to return to Italy for three months of additional operatic training that same year.[22][23] That trip was postponed, however, when Celli was cast by Peter Herman Adler in The Great Caruso in August 1950; the film was released in 1951.[24]

Later years

During her mid-sixties, Celli relocated to Clearwater, Florida, where she spent her remaining years and became a member of that community's Church of Christ.[25]

Death

Celli died at her home in Clearwater, Florida on October 30, 1999 at the age of seventy-seven.[26][27][28]

References
  1. Corby, Jane. "Screenings." Brooklyn, New York: Brooklyn Eagle, March 10, 1950, p. 10 (subscription required).
  2. Rosado, Luis. "On the Sets." Martinez, California: Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950, p. 4 (subscription required).
  3. "Celli, Teresa" (obituary). Tampa, Florida: Tampa Bay Times, November 2, 1999, p. 7 (subscription required).
  4. International Motion Picture Almanac, 1951, pg. 37
  5. "Here's a Tale of Success in Reverse." Louisville, Kentucky: The Courier-Journal, March 10, 1950, p. 6 (subscription required).
  6. Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950.
  7. Strong, Edwin J. (September 4, 1949). "Beautiful American-Born Italian Girl to Sing MGM Operatic Roles". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. p. Part IV - Page 1. Retrieved March 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. Corby, "Screenings," Brooklyn Eagle, March 10, 1950.
  9. Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950.
  10. "Voice Heard from Italy Brings Contract". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. November 15, 1948. p. 30. Retrieved March 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. Corby, "Screenings," Brooklyn Eagle, March 10, 1950.
  12. Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950.
  13. Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950.
  14. Denton-Drew, Andra D. Clarke and Regina (2015). Ciro's: Nightclub of the Stars. Arcadia Publishing. p. 18. ISBN 9781467133791. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  15. Schallert, Edwin. "Teresa Celli Gets Leave for Opera Study." Los Angeles, California: The Los Angeles Times, June 10, 1950, p. 11.
  16. Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950.
  17. "(untitled brief)". The Indianapolis Star. Indiana, Indianapolis. March 5, 1949. p. 13. Retrieved March 24, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  18. Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950.
  19. Institute, American Film (1999). The American Film Institute catalog of motion pictures produced in the United States. F4,1. Feature films, 1941 - 1950, film entries, A - L. University of California Press. p. 280. ISBN 9780520215214. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  20. "On Screens Downtown." Buffalo, New York: Buffalo Evening News, March 18, 1950, p. 7 (subscription required).
  21. Schallert, Edwin. "Singer Celli Still on Dramatic Course," in "Pirate Picture Shapes for Fairbanks; Wyman May Do Lawrence Story." Los Angeles, California: The Los Angeles Times, January 20, 1950, p. 23 (subscription required).
  22. Schallert, "Teresa Celli Gets Leave for Opera Study," The Los Angeles Times, June 10, 1950.
  23. Rosado, "On the Sets." Contra Costa Gazette, April 22, 1950.
  24. Schallert, Edwin. "'Caesar' Put on Spring Schedule; Marine Spy Subject May Star Cobb." Los Angeles, California: The Los Angeles Times, August 14, 1950, p. 7 (subscription required).
  25. "Celli, Teresa" (obituary), Tampa Bay Times, November 2, 1999.
  26. "Celli, Teresa" (obituary), Tampa Bay Times, November 2, 1999.
  27. Ancestry: Teresa Mara Levis in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
  28. Ancestry LifeStory: Teresa Mara Levis
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