Teresa Arkel
Teresa Arkel, born Therese Blumenfeld, was a Ukrainian-born, Austrian-trained opera singer, based in Milan.
Early life
Therese Blumenfeld was born in Lemberg, now Lviv, Ukraine, the daughter of Emanuel Blumenfeld. Her family was Jewish; her father was a prominent lawyer and community leader. She trained as a singer in Vienna with Luise Dustmann. Her nephew was radiologist.Career
Arkel, a dramatic soprano known for her impressive range and technique, made her operatic debut in 1884, in Les Huguenots. In 1885 she was on the opera stage in Warsaw, appearing in Aida, Il trovatore, and L'Africaine. She sang throughout Europe, from Bilbao and Paris to Prague and Budapest. In 1890 she was the first to perform the lead role in Emilio Serrano's Doña Juana la Loca, in Madrid. She also sang in Buenos Aires, in 1894, in Otello and Lohengrin. In 1898, she was the first to perform the lead role in Zygmunt Noskowski's Livia Quintilla, in her hometown.After her stage career, she became a prominent voice teacher in Milan and made several recordings between 1903 and 1905. Her students included Phyllis Wolfe, Tina Desana, Nina Gale, Inez Wilson, and Nina Morgana,.