Marie Parcello

Marie Parcello (née, Maude Marie V. Parcells) was an American singer. Her contralto voice had the unusual range of three octaves, from C to C.

Early years and education

Parcello was born Maude Marie V. Parcells at Cayuga, New York. She was surrounded by musical influences from her infancy, her grandfather, Dr. Christopher Feldhausen, being a violinist, and her father, Rev. J. J. Parcells, possessed a baritone voice. Two of her cousins were well-known musicians—the Rev. George Weed Barhydt, composer of church music, and the oratorio tenor, Edwin H. Douglass.

Parcells attended school at Auburn, New York, and from the age of seven had teachers in music, among them being I. V. Flagler, of Chautauqua, and for a short time Mrs. Sumner Salter, of Syracuse, New York. Becoming an orphan at an early age, her education was assumed by her aunt and adopted mother, Mrs. Gilbert Lincoln, who sent her to Europe to study piano and composition as a foundation for later vocal study. Upon her return to America, Psrcello made her home in New York City, and developed a reputation throughout the country as a teacher and lecturer in Young Ladies' Schools ("Illustrated Musical Lectures"). She diligently pursued her vocal studies with Adelina Murio-Celli, and became the solo contralto at the noted Church of St. Mary the Virgin. One summer was passed in London, where she began her operatic studies, gave many recitals, and became a social favorite.

Career

At the beginning of her great career, she was severely injured by a fall on a defective sidewalk, while visiting at Auburn, New York. Spinal trouble resulted and she became an invalid for three years and was obliged to give up her profession. Part of this time, she was a cripple and under treatment at Auburn Hospital, after which upon the advice of physicians, she went to Nice, France where the climate proved a great help toward her recovery. She was absent from the musical world for three years, and during this enforced idleness showed the fortitude and patience, gaining many friends. As her prolonged ill-health involved great pecuniary loss, an action to recover damages was brought by Parcells against the city of Auburn, through whose official negligence the accident occurred. After a hotly-contested lawsuit, the jury returned a verdict of US$9,000 damages in favor of the plaintiff. The city appealed from this, and the case was bitterly fought from court to court for more than two years, resulting in a victory for Parcells. Thirteen judges of the New York Supreme Court passed upon this case and all decided in her favor.

The long litigation ended in 1895, and Parcells at once started on an extended concert-tour, combining health and business interests. She visited Algiers, Italy, and the Riviera, giving song-recitals. From the Riviera, she went to Paris where her concert was the success of the season. The hall was hung with American flags and her patrons were the American Ambassador, Mrs. Eustis, the Duchess de Pomar, the British Ambassador, Lady Dufl'erin, and Mrs. Eames Story. Resuming her concert-tour she went to England and Belgium, appearing before King Leopold and other royalties and everywhere meeting success. During this tour, Parcells used the professional name of Marie Parcello, which she permanently adopted thereafter, for euphony.

After her return to New York, Parcello gave recitals at the Waldorf and Steinway Hall, and also opened a studio in Carnegie Hall where she trained contralto voices only, limiting herself to six pupils at a time. Parcello, having a liberal education, spoke and sang in four languages. She was also a pianist and devoted considerable time to composition. Her songs for contralto were published by Schuberth & Co. She had a religious nature, and since childhood, had a friend in Bishop Huntington, of Central New York, by whom she was confirmed and to whose influence and counsel she attributed much of her real success and happiness.

References

• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Edgar S. Werner's Werner's Magazine (1896)

Bibliography

• Werner, Edgar S. (1896). Werner's Magazine. Vol. 18 (Public domain ed.). E. S. Werner. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)