From Australia’s Jewish Past: Lalla Miranda – a forgotten brilliant soprano
Lalla was born in Melbourne in 1874 and grew up in a house named ‘Natal House’ after her parents had visited South Africa before settling in Fitzroy.
Lalla Miranda Photo: Wikipedia
Her parents, David and Annetta, were splendid vocalists and, for many years, were first-class operatic stars. Beatrice, an older sister, was more of a vocalist than an opera singer and there was a younger brother, Angelo.
Once settled in Melbourne, their parents retired from the stage and taught music.
Lalla started singing very early in her life, and when she was only thirteen, she was singing in public, already showing great talent as a soprano.
After studying in London and Paris, she made her professional opera debut in The Hague in 1898. She then appeared in numerous operas in Amsterdam and, in 1899 she was a resident artist at the Theatre La Monnaie in Brussels Belgium. She also made several appearances at the Palais Garnier in Paris and theatres in the French provinces from 1900 to 1920.
During this time, she was committed to the Royal Opera House in London and, in 1910, to both the Manhattan Opera and the Philadelphia Opera Companies.
She notably opened the 1910 season at the Manhattan Opera House, in the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, a role for which she was famous. In New York, Philadelphia, and at Covent Garden London, she sang the role of Gilda in Rigoletto. Her performance listing is significant and she was extremely popular, talented, and well-respected. After 1918 her main involvement was with the Carl Rosa Opera Company, which still holds the record as the longest-running and most successful travelling opera company in British history.
An extract from Trove which appeared in the UMPIRE – a Manchester Newspaper – on 26 May 1900:
‘’David Miranda was a splendid tenor singer, and one of his finest characters was Don Cesare de Bazan in “Maritana.” To hear him sing ” Yes, Let Me Like a Soldier Fall” or to join his wife in the duet “O Maritana,” was a rare treat. It was my good fortune to have been on very intimate terms with the family and saw little Lalla grew up from the short frock stage into one of the most charming young ladies in Melbourne. Poor David passed away twelve years ago. How he would have been delighted if he had seen this morning’s announcements. He always predicted that Lalla would be a great singer, but it was undoubtedly from her mother that she inherited her beautiful contralto voice, which bid- fair to bring her into equal prominence with Melba. Madame Miranda trained Lalla assiduously and is fully entitled to all the credit that can be bestowed. ‘Madame Miranda is a lady of singularly sweet disposition, and Lalla takes after her. No success will ever spoil her – she will always retain her charm of manner, which is innate. Let us all wish her a long and triumphant career – another distinguished Australian of who we may all feel proud. Lalla, The UMPIRE salutes you, and congratulates your widowed mother.’’
Lalla retired in the early 1920s and, unfortunately made only a few recordings. She died in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1944.
The AJHS acknowledges the following references in the preparation of this story:-
Jewish Encyclopaedia – Joseph Jacobs, Martha Washington Levy; Jewish Year Book – 1901 – 02; Wikipedia
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What indication was there that Lalla was jewish ?