Helena Bliss (December 31, 1917 â€" April 19, 2014) was an American
actress and singer. A talented soprano, she actively performed in
musicals, operettas, and operas in the United States, both on stage
and on television and radio, from the 1930s through the 1950s. She is
best known for her portrayal of Nina Hagerup in the original Broadway
production of Robert Wright and George Forrest's Song of Norway. She
also appeared successfully in a few productions on London's West
End.Helena Bliss was born as Helena Louise Lipp in St. Louis, Missouri
on December 31, 1917. Her parents were Albert Lipp and Augusta
Clemens. She was educated at Washington University in St. Louis. In
1947 she married actor and singer John Tyers who starred opposite her
is several productions and performed with several notable opera
companies; including the Metropolitan Opera. He died in 2007 after 60
years of marriage. The couple had two sons together: John and Michael
Tyers.Bliss began her career in the late 1930s singing opera on radio
and television. She made her stage debut in November 1939 in the role
of Helen in a production of Very Warm for May at the Alvin Theatre.
During the early 1940s she appeared in several musical and opera
entertainments presented to American troops by the United Service
Organizations. In July 1943 she performed the title role in Rudolf
Friml's Rose-Marie with the St. Louis Municipal Opera. In 1943-1944
she performed in the final season of Sylvan Levin's Philadelphia Opera
Company, where she sang Marguerite in Charles Gounod's Faust, Micaela
in Georges Bizet's Carmen, Mimi in Giacomo Puccini's La bohème, and
Rosalinde in Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus.After Levin's opera
company folded, Bliss went to California to join the roster of artists
at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera (LACLO). She made her debut with
the company in May 1944 as Marianne Beaunoir in Sigmund Romberg's The
New Moon opposite Walter Cassel. This was followed in June 1944 by the
role of Nina Hagerup in the world premiere of Robert Wright and George
Forrest's Song of Norway which adapted its music from works by Edvard
Grieg. A triumph with both audience and critics, this production
became Bliss' first major success. In late June the show was presented
to enthusiastic response by the LACLO's sister organization, the San
Francisco Light Opera Company (SFLOC); after which it was transported
by the LACLO to New York City. In August 1944 Bliss made her Broadway
debut as Nina Hagerup at the Imperial Theatre to enthusiastic reviews.
The show ran for more than 800 performances, and its cast recording
was listed as one of Billboard's most popular releases of March 1945.
She later portrayed the role of Countess Louisa Giovanni in the 1952
revival of Song of Norway at the LACLO with Jean Fenn in the part of
Nina.
actress and singer. A talented soprano, she actively performed in
musicals, operettas, and operas in the United States, both on stage
and on television and radio, from the 1930s through the 1950s. She is
best known for her portrayal of Nina Hagerup in the original Broadway
production of Robert Wright and George Forrest's Song of Norway. She
also appeared successfully in a few productions on London's West
End.Helena Bliss was born as Helena Louise Lipp in St. Louis, Missouri
on December 31, 1917. Her parents were Albert Lipp and Augusta
Clemens. She was educated at Washington University in St. Louis. In
1947 she married actor and singer John Tyers who starred opposite her
is several productions and performed with several notable opera
companies; including the Metropolitan Opera. He died in 2007 after 60
years of marriage. The couple had two sons together: John and Michael
Tyers.Bliss began her career in the late 1930s singing opera on radio
and television. She made her stage debut in November 1939 in the role
of Helen in a production of Very Warm for May at the Alvin Theatre.
During the early 1940s she appeared in several musical and opera
entertainments presented to American troops by the United Service
Organizations. In July 1943 she performed the title role in Rudolf
Friml's Rose-Marie with the St. Louis Municipal Opera. In 1943-1944
she performed in the final season of Sylvan Levin's Philadelphia Opera
Company, where she sang Marguerite in Charles Gounod's Faust, Micaela
in Georges Bizet's Carmen, Mimi in Giacomo Puccini's La bohème, and
Rosalinde in Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus.After Levin's opera
company folded, Bliss went to California to join the roster of artists
at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera (LACLO). She made her debut with
the company in May 1944 as Marianne Beaunoir in Sigmund Romberg's The
New Moon opposite Walter Cassel. This was followed in June 1944 by the
role of Nina Hagerup in the world premiere of Robert Wright and George
Forrest's Song of Norway which adapted its music from works by Edvard
Grieg. A triumph with both audience and critics, this production
became Bliss' first major success. In late June the show was presented
to enthusiastic response by the LACLO's sister organization, the San
Francisco Light Opera Company (SFLOC); after which it was transported
by the LACLO to New York City. In August 1944 Bliss made her Broadway
debut as Nina Hagerup at the Imperial Theatre to enthusiastic reviews.
The show ran for more than 800 performances, and its cast recording
was listed as one of Billboard's most popular releases of March 1945.
She later portrayed the role of Countess Louisa Giovanni in the 1952
revival of Song of Norway at the LACLO with Jean Fenn in the part of
Nina.
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