Susan Metcalfe Casals, born Susan S. Metcalfe was an American mezzo-soprano singer active in the early part of the twentieth century, who had a stormy marriage with the cellist Pablo Casals.
Background
Susan Metcalfe was born in Florence, the daughter of Doctor Frank J. Metcalfe, a New York physician and his wife Helene, afterwards Mrs Helene Rochet, prominent members of New Rochelle, New York society. In later years Doctor Metcalfe practised in Florence, Italy, and Susan was born there in 1878 and educated in Conservatories in Italy and France. (She also had a brother Louis and a sister Helen Frances Metcalfe (b 1880), who married the American socialist architect Herman Kobbé.).
Career
She was highly respected in Lieder and concert recital. As a recitalist, Susan Casals made her debut in New York in 1897 and gave few, but very select recitals each year. In 1908 Metcalfe embarked on a European tour during which she sang for the British royal family.
As the Suggia relationship became strained, Metcalfe and Casals corresponded.
After this they moved together to Europe. The marriage lasted until 1928, when they were formally separated, but they did not divorce until 1957.
Foreign example at their farewell concert (their second recital of the season) in New York, April 1916, at the Aeolian Hall, Mme Casals sang a group of songs by Caldera, Caccini, Gluck and Mozart, and later a set of five Scots and Irish songs arranged by Beethoven. In A Maennerchor Artist Concert of January 1917 she sings a similar group in the first part, and songs by Schumann and Emanuel Moor in the second.
They gave concerts in America, Europe, England, Mexico and Cuba.
The marriage with Casals was stormy, and following their separation in 1929 Mme Metcalfe Casals lived in Paris. Her last known recital was at the École Normale de Musique there in 1951. Collection of 53 letters of Casals and Metcalfe, et cetera, c1915-1918: George P. Moore collection, s of American Art, Smithsonian Institution: Microfilm reel 5743.
Susan Metcalfe Letters 1902-1922 (69 items): Jackson Library, Greensboro, University of North Carolina: Master in Social Service 246.
Politics
She also had a brother Louis and a sister Helen Frances Metcalfe (b 1880), who married the American socialist architect Herman Kobbé.).