Born: 20 February 1874, United Kingdom
Died: 3 January 1967
Country most active: France, United States
Also known as: NA
From Famous Women: An Outline of Feminine Achievement Through the Ages With Life Stories of Five Hundred Noted Women. Written by Joseph Adelman, published 1926 by Ellis M Lonow Company:
Mary Garden, an American dramatic soprano, born at Aberdeen, Scotland, came to the United States at the age of six, and went with her parents to Chicago. Her musical talent soon expressed itself at the violin and piano, and in 1895 she went to Paris to complete her vocal studies. She made her début there in 1900 in Charharpentier’s Louise, and in 1902 created the part of Melisande in Debussey’s opera.
After having been a great favorite in Paris, she made her first appearance in the United States at the Manhattan Opera House, New York, in 1908, and achieved instant success. Her recent engagements have been with the Chicago Opera Company, of which she became the director in 1921.
Besides her extraordinary talent as a singer, Miss Garden is a superb actress, a dramatic artist of subtle delineation, plastic pose, and compelling power.