Amalia Mignon Hauck "Minnie" Hauk (November 16, 1851 â€" February 6,
1929) was an American operatic soprano.She was born in New York City
on November 16, 1851, the only child of Francis Hauck, a German
emigrant, and his American wife. Soon after Minnie's birth the Haucks
moved to Providence, Rhode Island, and then to Sumner, Kansas, in
1857. It was later wrongly rumoured that Hauk was the daughter of the
financier Leonard Jerome, who was a devotee of the opera.In 1865, Hauk
began vocal studies with Achille Errani, who secured her a spot with
the Max Maretzek Italian Opera Company. At age fourteen she made her
public debut as opera singer in Brooklyn as Amina in La sonnambula,
and a month later, in November 1866, her New York City debut as
Prascovia in L'étoile du nord. In the American premiere of Gounod's
Roméo et Juliette (November 15, 1867) she sang Juliette.Hauk sang for
the first time in Europe at Covent Garden, London, on 26 October 1868,
and debuted in Paris in 1869. The soprano then appeared in Italian and
German opera at the Grand Opera in Vienna (1870â€"1874) and other
venues throughout Europe. Hauk interpreted the role Carmen, the
previously unsuccessful opera by Georges Bizet, in a new intensive way
for the first time on January 2, 1878 in Brussels. The immediate
success brought the opera to longlasting fame. She then played the
role at the opera's British and American premieres in 1878. Hauk
performed Manon at its American premiere in 1885. Her voice became a
mezzo-soprano of great strength and depth. Hauk stopped to sing
intensive opera tours by end of 1893. Hauk's enormous repertory
included approximately one hundred roles, and she sang Carmen in four
languages.
1929) was an American operatic soprano.She was born in New York City
on November 16, 1851, the only child of Francis Hauck, a German
emigrant, and his American wife. Soon after Minnie's birth the Haucks
moved to Providence, Rhode Island, and then to Sumner, Kansas, in
1857. It was later wrongly rumoured that Hauk was the daughter of the
financier Leonard Jerome, who was a devotee of the opera.In 1865, Hauk
began vocal studies with Achille Errani, who secured her a spot with
the Max Maretzek Italian Opera Company. At age fourteen she made her
public debut as opera singer in Brooklyn as Amina in La sonnambula,
and a month later, in November 1866, her New York City debut as
Prascovia in L'étoile du nord. In the American premiere of Gounod's
Roméo et Juliette (November 15, 1867) she sang Juliette.Hauk sang for
the first time in Europe at Covent Garden, London, on 26 October 1868,
and debuted in Paris in 1869. The soprano then appeared in Italian and
German opera at the Grand Opera in Vienna (1870â€"1874) and other
venues throughout Europe. Hauk interpreted the role Carmen, the
previously unsuccessful opera by Georges Bizet, in a new intensive way
for the first time on January 2, 1878 in Brussels. The immediate
success brought the opera to longlasting fame. She then played the
role at the opera's British and American premieres in 1878. Hauk
performed Manon at its American premiere in 1885. Her voice became a
mezzo-soprano of great strength and depth. Hauk stopped to sing
intensive opera tours by end of 1893. Hauk's enormous repertory
included approximately one hundred roles, and she sang Carmen in four
languages.
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