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Ruby Helder | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Ruby Helder as a young woman | |
| Born | (1890-03-03)March 3, 1890 |
| Died | November 21, 1938(1938-11-21) (aged 48) |
| Alma mater | Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
| Occupation | Opera singer (contralto) |
| Years active | 1908–1935 |
| Spouse | |
Ruby Helder (March 3, 1890 – November 21, 1938) was a British opera singer known for her powerful contralto voice.
Helder was born Emma Jane Holder in 1890 in the Easton district of Bristol. Her father, Thomas, a dairyman at the time, became landlord of a nearby public house where a young Helder would sing to entertain the regulars. Helder's vocal range—from C3 to C5—attracted attention from an early age.[1] She soon began formal music lessons, at which point she changed her name to avoid confusion with a classmate. Her aunt, who was housekeeper to the music hall star Harry Lauder, made arrangements for Helder to train at the Guildhall School of Music with Charles Tinney. Helder also later trained with Charles Santley.
Santley described her voice as a "natural, pure tenor voice of great beauty and power."[2]
By 1908, Helder was recording for Pathé, and in 1909 made her first appearance in an opera at the Queen's Hall, London.[3] In 1911, she signed a recording contract with HMV, and by 1913 her international fame was such that she is said to have travelled to the United States in order to sing at a millionaire's private party.[4] She sang at venues across the United States, and between 1916 and 1917 pursued music studies at Grinnell College. Helder later toured the United States and Canada with John Philip Sousa and his band.
1920年7月12日、ヘルダーはアメリカ人建築家で芸術家のチェスリー・ボネステルと結婚した。結婚した二人はその後イタリアを旅行した。しかし、この時点でヘルダーの人気は衰え始めており、1921年以降は彼女の録音は行われていないが、1925年1月にはBBCでイギリスのラジオデビューを果たした。 [ 5 ]二人は1927年にアメリカに戻り、カリフォルニア州バークレーに定住した。彼女はそこで数年間音楽教師として働いた。[ 6 ]ヘルダーは1935年に歌手業を引退し、アルコール依存症との長い闘病の末、1938年11月21日にハリウッドのハイランドホテルでわずか48歳で亡くなった。
2001年6月、ブリストル市長によってヘルダーの生誕地に記念銘板が除幕された。[ 7 ]