Phyllis La Fond

Phyllis La Fond
Phyllis Baranco, from an 1897 publication; photo by Sarony
Bornabout 1875
Other namesFelicia Baranco, Phyllis Baranco, Phyllis la Fond, Felice Valbuena, Selice Valbuenna
OccupationSinger

Phyllis La Fond (born about 1875)[1] was an American singer, also known as Felicia Baranco,[2] Phyllis Baranco[3] and Felice Valbuena.[4] She lived in New York City, appeared on Broadway, and toured in the United States. During World War I, she entertained American troops.

Early life and education

La Fond may have been born in France, and educated in Germany and Russia, initially as a violin student.[5][6]

Career

In the 1890s, Baranco appeared in The Fete Campetre [sic] conducted by Oscar Hammerstein on the Olympia Roof,[3] and in The Ballet Girl (1898) at the Columbia Theatre in Brooklyn.[7] On Broadway, she was a "Spanish dancer" in the revue Fiddle-Dee-Dee (1900–1901),[8] and she appeared in musicals including The Three Dragoons (1899),[9] The Little Duchess (1902), starring Anna Held,[10] and The Rollicking Girl (1905).[8] She was in a traveling company of Cleo in 1907,[11] and DuBarry in 1908,[12] both starring Mrs. Leslie Carter.[13]

La Fond, a soprano,[14] sang in concerts in New York[15][16][17] and toured the midwest in the 1910s, often accompanied by Edna Rothwell.[18][19][20] "Miss La Fond charmed her listeners with the finish and beauty of her delivery, clarity of diction, and general artistic style," noted a 1917 report.[21] During World War I, she sang for the troops at American bases,[22] and she spoke in favor of women's trousers, saying "Many women have wanted to wear breeches for years, and now is their chance".[23] She encouraged younger singers to maintain good health, wear loose clothing, and study languages.[24] She also supported the work of American composers.[25]

As "Felice Valbuena", she sang the role of Santuzza in productions of Cavalleria rusticana in 1921 and 1922.[4][26][27]

References

  1. ^ 1920 United States Federal Census, via Ancestry.
  2. ^ "An American Stage Beauty" The Illustrated American (1898).
  3. ^ a b "Stage Gossip". Dayton Daily News. 1901-07-12. p. 14. Retrieved 2025-08-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Opera at Stuyvesant High School". Musical Courier. 82 (16): 26. April 21, 1921 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ "Phyllis la Fond to Sing Russian Songs". Musical Courier. 76 (1): 45. January 3, 1918 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ "Phyllis La Fond on Russian Temperament". Musical Courier. 76 (3): 48. January 17, 1918 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ "Columbia Theatre". Times Union. 1898-04-05. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-08-09 – via Newpapers.com.
  8. ^ a b Dietz, Dan (2022-07-15). The Complete Book of 1900s Broadway Musicals. Bloomsbury Publishing PLC. pp. 21, 82–83, 286–287. ISBN 978-1-5381-6894-3.
  9. ^ "Things Theatrical". Times Herald. 1899-03-11. p. 8. Retrieved 2025-08-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "The Little Duchess", The Cast (1902): 17.
  11. ^ "Music and Drama". The Buffalo Commercial. 1907-01-05. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-08-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "At the Theatres: 'DuBarry' at the Boyd". The Omaha Evening Bee. 1908-01-17. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-08-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Say Costumes Didn't Fit Them; Members of Mrs. Leslie Carter's Company Testify for Her In Suit". New-York Tribune. 1909-03-26. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-08-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Artists Join in Concert for East Side Coffee Stand" Musical America (May 6, 1916): 45.
  15. ^ "Phyllis La Fond Soloist at Symphony Concert". Musical Courier. 74 (23): 32. June 7, 1917 – via Internet Archive.
  16. ^ "Phyllis La Fond Wins Favor at Her Concert Appearances". Musical America. 27 (20): 43. March 16, 1918 – via Internet Archive.
  17. ^ "Phyllis La Fond Scores at Stadium". Musical Courier. 77 (33): 9. August 15, 1918 – via Internet Archive.
  18. ^ "Phyllis La Fond Faces Busy Season" Musical Courier 75(11)(September 13, 1917): 31.
  19. ^ "Cincinnati Hears Phyllis La Fond" The Musical Courier (September 20, 1917): 29.
  20. ^ "Continued Success of Phyllis La Fond" The Musical Observer (May 1917) 55.
  21. ^ "Successful Appearance in Recital of Phyllis La Fond". The Musical Observer. 15 (1): 60. January 1917.
  22. ^ "Phyllis la Fond to Sing for Boys in Khaki" Musical Courier (October 4, 1917): 35.
  23. ^ "Phyllis La Fond at Mountain Lakes" Musical Courier (September 6, 1917): 29.
  24. ^ "'Hard Work Essential', Says Phyllis la Fond" Musical Courier (October 18, 1917): 29.
  25. ^ "Phyllis La Fond Plans Soirées in Interest of American Composers". Musical America. 27 (12): 39. January 19, 1918 – via Internet Archive.
  26. ^ "Opera at the Academy". Times Union. 1921-09-19. p. 11. Retrieved 2025-08-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Programmes for the Week". Times Union. 1922-05-28. p. 30. Retrieved 2025-08-10 – via Newspapers.com.
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