Sophie Braslau (August 16, 1892 – December 22, 1935) was a dramatic contralto prominent in United States opera, starting with her debut in New York City's Metropolitan Opera in 1913 when she was 21.[1]
As a child, Braslau studied piano. Her vocal talent was discovered by voice teacher Arturo Buzzi-Peccia, a family friend, who heard the little girl humming while she practiced piano.[2][3] Braslau herself claimed to be inspired to a singing career after hearing Alma Gluck, another student of Buzzi-Peccia. She studied with Buzzi-Peccia for three years and then with a number of other instructors. She auditioned for New York's Metropolitan Opera in April 1913, was promptly signed to a contract, and debuted in November of that year. Her first leading role was in 1918 as Shanewis.[2]
Braslau also sang in concert and toured widely and frequently, first in the United States and Canada, then in Europe in the 1920s, using a repertoire which included works in English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Yiddish.[3]
She retired from her full-time opera career in the late 1920s and performed very little as frail health brought her life to an early close.
