Today in Wheeling History: December 28--Kate Rolla, a renowned opera singer who hailed from Wheeling, passed away (1925).
Kate Rolla, born Katherine Doane Wheat on June 16, 1859, in Wheeling, West Virginia, was the daughter of George Keiter Wheat, a banker and businessman, and Fannie Josephine Doane Wheat, a suffragist and clubwoman. Growing up in Wheeling, she was influenced by her mother's activism and her father's business acumen. Rolla's early education included local schools in Wheeling, where she developed a passion for music and singing.
After an early marriage to Oscar Rammelsberg, which ended in divorce, Rolla moved to Paris to pursue her dream of becoming an opera singer. She studied under the renowned vocal teacher Mathilde Marchesi and made her operatic debut at the Teatro Carcano in Milan, performing the title role in Donizetti's "Linda di Chamounix." Rolla's career flourished as she performed in major European cities, including Dublin, Moscow, and London. She sang at London's Covent Garden in 1888 and 1891, and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1896.
Rolla's voice was described as pure and bell-like, though some critics noted a metallic timbre. Despite mixed reviews, she continued to perform and later transitioned to teaching voice in New York City during World War I. Rolla passed away on December 28, 1925, in Paris, France, from an infection following an appendectomy. She left behind a legacy as a talented opera singer and dedicated teacher.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/agdic), GS Archive (https://shorturl.at/uDSHB), Wikiwand (https://shorturl.at/NnJz9)
Photo caption and credit: "Kate Rolla (born Kate Wheat), American opera singer" (The Marie Burroughs Art Portfolio of Stage Celebrities, Chicago: A. N. Marquis & Company, 1894)
Kate Rolla, born Katherine Doane Wheat on June 16, 1859, in Wheeling, West Virginia, was the daughter of George Keiter Wheat, a banker and businessman, and Fannie Josephine Doane Wheat, a suffragist and clubwoman. Growing up in Wheeling, she was influenced by her mother's activism and her father's business acumen. Rolla's early education included local schools in Wheeling, where she developed a passion for music and singing.
After an early marriage to Oscar Rammelsberg, which ended in divorce, Rolla moved to Paris to pursue her dream of becoming an opera singer. She studied under the renowned vocal teacher Mathilde Marchesi and made her operatic debut at the Teatro Carcano in Milan, performing the title role in Donizetti's "Linda di Chamounix." Rolla's career flourished as she performed in major European cities, including Dublin, Moscow, and London. She sang at London's Covent Garden in 1888 and 1891, and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1896.
Rolla's voice was described as pure and bell-like, though some critics noted a metallic timbre. Despite mixed reviews, she continued to perform and later transitioned to teaching voice in New York City during World War I. Rolla passed away on December 28, 1925, in Paris, France, from an infection following an appendectomy. She left behind a legacy as a talented opera singer and dedicated teacher.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/agdic), GS Archive (https://shorturl.at/uDSHB), Wikiwand (https://shorturl.at/NnJz9)
Photo caption and credit: "Kate Rolla (born Kate Wheat), American opera singer" (The Marie Burroughs Art Portfolio of Stage Celebrities, Chicago: A. N. Marquis & Company, 1894)
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