Regina Vicarino (August 23, 1885 – 1957) was an American soprano opera singer.
Early life Reine Annette Vicarino was born in New York City, the daughter of Edouard Joseph Vicarino and Leontine Camille Serre Vicarino. Her father was born in Switzerland; her mother was born in New York, to French-born parents."A Theatrical Gamut" San Francisco Call (September 25, 1910): 39. via Newspapers.com Reine (who used the Italian form of her name, Regina) studied voice with Delia Valeri, and with Arthur Lawrason in New York."Mme. Vicarino Heard in Lawrason Studio Musicale" Musical America (May 21, 1921): 43."Arthur Lawrason, Singing Teacher, Dies" New York Times (June 29, 1932): 21.
Career In 1906, Vicarino performed several small roles in the first season of Oscar Hammerstein I's Manhattan Opera Company. From there she went on to perform in Italy, and was given "a priceless souvenir" by the Duke and Duchess of Connaught (Prince Arthur and Princess Louise Margaret) for a performance in Malta.
Vicarino's voice was described as having "all the range and limpidity of an ideal coloratura," in the Los Angeles Herald in 1910; the critic went into further detail, writing that "The upper register is clear and brilliant, and the lower tones are wonderfully vibrant and rich for a coloratura voice."Florence Bosard Lawrence, "New Star Shines at Opera Start" Los Angeles Herald (November 1, 1910): 16. via California Digital Newspaper Collection She frequently sang the lead role in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor,"Triumph for Vicarino, Soprano Enchantress" San Francisco Call (January 28, 1913): 9. via California Digital Newspaper Collection and she was also considered successful as Violetta in La traviata,"Regina Vicarino Sings Violetta" Town Talk (September 24, 1910): 20. and as Micaela in Carmen."'Carmen' at the Lexington Theater" Music News (May 4, 1917): 30.
She sang with the Bevani Grand Opera Company in San Francisco in 1910."Last Weeks of Bevani Opera Company" Town Talk (October 8, 1910): 20. Shortly after that she performed in Mexico City with Alessandro Bonci and Florencio Constantino, after which she spent two years performing in Europe. In the 1917–1918 season she toured New England and Canada with the Giuseppe Creatore Grand Opera Company."Vicarino Wins Honors with Creatore Co." Pacific Coast Musical Review (December 8, 1917): 6. In 1921, she sang a recital at Carnegie Hall, performed in the summer "Zoo Grand Opera" productions in Cincinnati, Ohio,"Cincinnati Summer Opera Flourishes" Musical Courier (July 14, 1921): 27. and she toured cities in the western United States and Canada with the San Carlo Opera Company."Regina Vicarino Returns from Western Operatic Tour" Musical America (April 30, 1921): 53. In 1922, she appeared in a radio production of Mozart's The Impresario.E. P. J. Shurick, The First Quarter Century of American Broadcasting (Midland Publishing 1946): 66. She made recordings for Lyric Records, and for others under the pseudonym "Josepha Donnelli".Josepha Donnelli, Rigoletto (Caro Nome) (Dearest Name) – Act 1 (Music Lovers of New York). via archive.org
Later in her career, she taught voice privately and at Sullins College, Brenau College, and Arlington Hall."Mme. Regina Vicarino is in Chattanooga" Kingsport Times (June 22, 1937): 5. via Newspapers.com"Music Recital at Delta State College" Greenwood Commonwealth (June 16, 1928): 3. via Newspapers.com"Brenau Announces Spring Music Festival" Atlanta Constitution (May 4, 1941): 34. via Newspapers.com In 1935 and 1937, she appeared at the Mazica Hall in Miami, Florida, giving "operalogues"."Opera Singer" Miami News (December 1, 1935): 8. via Newspapers.com"In Operalogue" Miami News (June 6, 1937): 42. via Newspapers.com"Soprano Presented Before Music Club" Miami News (June 9, 1937): 14. via Newspapers.com
Personal life Regina Vicarino married businessman George Vest Guyer in 1912. They had a daughter, Regina "Mimi" Vicarino Guyer, born in 1916."Regina Vicarino Sends Greetings" Pacific Coast Musical Review (October 20, 1917): 8. George died suddenly in 1922."Obituary" Clayton Times (June 23, 1922): 3. via Chronicling America Regina Vicarino died in 1957, aged 71.
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