The American soprano Anne Bollinger (1919–1962) was born in Lewiston, Idaho, studying first with Rosie Miller and later Lotte Lehmann.
She came to prominence in March 1948 singing in Bach's St Matthew Passion in Boston under Serge Koussevitzky.
Making her Metropolitan Opera début as Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro in January 1949, she sang with the Company for six seasons until 1953. There her rôles included Tebaldo in Don Carlo, Siebel in Faust, one of the Zaubermädchen in Parsifal, Emma in Khovanshchina and Frasquita in Carmen.
In 1953 she joined the Hamburg State Opera for four years where her rôles included Pamina in Die Zauberflöte in 1955.
She then returned to the United States before her premature death at the age of 39.
=====
Anne Bollinger Weds Chemist
Anne "Betty" Bollinger, Lewiston's fair-haired lyric soprano opera star, is a bride.
She married Jack Nielson of Oslo, Norway, a chemical engineer for Shell Oil Co. at London on Wednesday.
News of the London wedding came in a cablegram yesterday to her mother, Mrs. Ella Bollinger, at Lewiston. Mrs. Bollinger told the Tribune she wasn't surprised, because letters from Betty in recent weeks indicated she was "making up her mind."
The singer is known as Betty by her friends here. She is the daughter of the late William Bollinger, Lewiston hotel man who built the Bollinger Building in 1904.
She attended Lewiston schools and the University of Idaho.
She made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera Co., at New York in 1949.
Her romance with the young chemist began when they met at Hamburg last year through mutual friends of Col. and Mrs. John Gibson of Lewiston.
Mrs. Bollinger met her future son-in-law at Hamburg when she was there for Betty's opening performances with the Hamburg State Opera Co., last October.
He travels a good deal over Europe, Mrs. Bolling said and is now stationed at London. It is expected, however, that the couple will make their home in the United States after Betty's three-year contract with the opera company expires in August.
Lewiston Tribune February 03, 1956 pg. 10
transcribed by Kerry
=====
BEAUTIFUL VOICE TOOK LEWISTON WOMAN TO THE TOP OF HER PROFESSION
When she was singing in the Lewiston High School glee club, she was known as Betty Bollinger. But to the world she became known as Anne Bollinger, prima donna of the Metropolitan Opera Company and on many European stages.
Anne Bollinger, who was born and raised at Lewiston, skyrocketed to international fame with her vibrant soprano voice during the 1950s. But she never forgot her hometown, and visited frequently, always obliging with a performance.
She was the daughter of William and Ella Bollinger of Lewiston. Her father built the Bollinger Hotel in 1904 and operated it until his death in 1924.
Anne Bollinger graduated from Lewiston High School in 1937. She then attended the Ward-Belmont School at Nashville, Tenn., a girls finishing school. She also attended the University of Idaho and the University of Southern California at Santa Barbara, where she studied voice under her childhood idol, German soprano Lotte Lehmann.
Bollinger made her professional debut in 1944 at the Hollywood Bowl. She went to New York City for additional voice trianing, and signed a contract with the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Company in 1948.
She was a member of the company for four years, and also was voted one of the 10 best-dressed women at New York City one year by an accessories firm.
In 1952, Bollinger left the Met and went to Europe for further study and to sing. She performed at the opening of the new opera house at Hamburg, Germany, an honor never before extended to a foreigner. She sang with the Hamburg Opera Company for three years and gave performances in Switzerland, France, Austria, Italy, England and Ireland.
She also made numerous television appearances in Europe and England. She loved jazz, and sang on a jazz television show three times weekly at Hamburg under the name Chris Parker.
In 1956, she married Jack Neilson, a Shell Oil Co. executive and citizen of Norway. Her husband was an Olympic skier and had held the slalom championship of Norway. They moved to Zurich, Switzerland, after their marriage.
Bollinger's last visit to Lewiston was in January of 1962, when she gave a full-length concert at Lewis-Clark State College. ''If I am ever homesick, it is for Lewiston,'' Bollinger said. ''Lewiston is not like a small town to me. You see, I can so easily remember when Lewiston to me was the biggest city in the world.''
Bollinger died of cancer six months later, at the age of 42. The building at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Eighth Street that now houses the Lewiston Civic Theater is named for Anne Bollinger, Lewiston's own prima donna.
Lewiston Tribune May 6, 1990
Diane Pettit
She came to prominence in March 1948 singing in Bach's St Matthew Passion in Boston under Serge Koussevitzky.
Making her Metropolitan Opera début as Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro in January 1949, she sang with the Company for six seasons until 1953. There her rôles included Tebaldo in Don Carlo, Siebel in Faust, one of the Zaubermädchen in Parsifal, Emma in Khovanshchina and Frasquita in Carmen.
In 1953 she joined the Hamburg State Opera for four years where her rôles included Pamina in Die Zauberflöte in 1955.
She then returned to the United States before her premature death at the age of 39.
=====
Anne Bollinger Weds Chemist
Anne "Betty" Bollinger, Lewiston's fair-haired lyric soprano opera star, is a bride.
She married Jack Nielson of Oslo, Norway, a chemical engineer for Shell Oil Co. at London on Wednesday.
News of the London wedding came in a cablegram yesterday to her mother, Mrs. Ella Bollinger, at Lewiston. Mrs. Bollinger told the Tribune she wasn't surprised, because letters from Betty in recent weeks indicated she was "making up her mind."
The singer is known as Betty by her friends here. She is the daughter of the late William Bollinger, Lewiston hotel man who built the Bollinger Building in 1904.
She attended Lewiston schools and the University of Idaho.
She made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera Co., at New York in 1949.
Her romance with the young chemist began when they met at Hamburg last year through mutual friends of Col. and Mrs. John Gibson of Lewiston.
Mrs. Bollinger met her future son-in-law at Hamburg when she was there for Betty's opening performances with the Hamburg State Opera Co., last October.
He travels a good deal over Europe, Mrs. Bolling said and is now stationed at London. It is expected, however, that the couple will make their home in the United States after Betty's three-year contract with the opera company expires in August.
Lewiston Tribune February 03, 1956 pg. 10
transcribed by Kerry
=====
BEAUTIFUL VOICE TOOK LEWISTON WOMAN TO THE TOP OF HER PROFESSION
When she was singing in the Lewiston High School glee club, she was known as Betty Bollinger. But to the world she became known as Anne Bollinger, prima donna of the Metropolitan Opera Company and on many European stages.
Anne Bollinger, who was born and raised at Lewiston, skyrocketed to international fame with her vibrant soprano voice during the 1950s. But she never forgot her hometown, and visited frequently, always obliging with a performance.
She was the daughter of William and Ella Bollinger of Lewiston. Her father built the Bollinger Hotel in 1904 and operated it until his death in 1924.
Anne Bollinger graduated from Lewiston High School in 1937. She then attended the Ward-Belmont School at Nashville, Tenn., a girls finishing school. She also attended the University of Idaho and the University of Southern California at Santa Barbara, where she studied voice under her childhood idol, German soprano Lotte Lehmann.
Bollinger made her professional debut in 1944 at the Hollywood Bowl. She went to New York City for additional voice trianing, and signed a contract with the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Company in 1948.
She was a member of the company for four years, and also was voted one of the 10 best-dressed women at New York City one year by an accessories firm.
In 1952, Bollinger left the Met and went to Europe for further study and to sing. She performed at the opening of the new opera house at Hamburg, Germany, an honor never before extended to a foreigner. She sang with the Hamburg Opera Company for three years and gave performances in Switzerland, France, Austria, Italy, England and Ireland.
She also made numerous television appearances in Europe and England. She loved jazz, and sang on a jazz television show three times weekly at Hamburg under the name Chris Parker.
In 1956, she married Jack Neilson, a Shell Oil Co. executive and citizen of Norway. Her husband was an Olympic skier and had held the slalom championship of Norway. They moved to Zurich, Switzerland, after their marriage.
Bollinger's last visit to Lewiston was in January of 1962, when she gave a full-length concert at Lewis-Clark State College. ''If I am ever homesick, it is for Lewiston,'' Bollinger said. ''Lewiston is not like a small town to me. You see, I can so easily remember when Lewiston to me was the biggest city in the world.''
Bollinger died of cancer six months later, at the age of 42. The building at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Eighth Street that now houses the Lewiston Civic Theater is named for Anne Bollinger, Lewiston's own prima donna.
Lewiston Tribune May 6, 1990
Diane Pettit
The American soprano Anne Bollinger (1919–1962) was born in Lewiston, Idaho, studying first with Rosie Miller and later Lotte Lehmann.
She came to prominence in March 1948 singing in Bach's St Matthew Passion in Boston under Serge Koussevitzky.
Making her Metropolitan Opera début as Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro in January 1949, she sang with the Company for six seasons until 1953. There her rôles included Tebaldo in Don Carlo, Siebel in Faust, one of the Zaubermädchen in Parsifal, Emma in Khovanshchina and Frasquita in Carmen.
In 1953 she joined the Hamburg State Opera for four years where her rôles included Pamina in Die Zauberflöte in 1955.
She then returned to the United States before her premature death at the age of 39.
=====
Anne Bollinger Weds Chemist
Anne "Betty" Bollinger, Lewiston's fair-haired lyric soprano opera star, is a bride.
She married Jack Nielson of Oslo, Norway, a chemical engineer for Shell Oil Co. at London on Wednesday.
News of the London wedding came in a cablegram yesterday to her mother, Mrs. Ella Bollinger, at Lewiston. Mrs. Bollinger told the Tribune she wasn't surprised, because letters from Betty in recent weeks indicated she was "making up her mind."
The singer is known as Betty by her friends here. She is the daughter of the late William Bollinger, Lewiston hotel man who built the Bollinger Building in 1904.
She attended Lewiston schools and the University of Idaho.
She made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera Co., at New York in 1949.
Her romance with the young chemist began when they met at Hamburg last year through mutual friends of Col. and Mrs. John Gibson of Lewiston.
Mrs. Bollinger met her future son-in-law at Hamburg when she was there for Betty's opening performances with the Hamburg State Opera Co., last October.
He travels a good deal over Europe, Mrs. Bolling said and is now stationed at London. It is expected, however, that the couple will make their home in the United States after Betty's three-year contract with the opera company expires in August.
Lewiston Tribune February 03, 1956 pg. 10
transcribed by Kerry
=====
BEAUTIFUL VOICE TOOK LEWISTON WOMAN TO THE TOP OF HER PROFESSION
When she was singing in the Lewiston High School glee club, she was known as Betty Bollinger. But to the world she became known as Anne Bollinger, prima donna of the Metropolitan Opera Company and on many European stages.
Anne Bollinger, who was born and raised at Lewiston, skyrocketed to international fame with her vibrant soprano voice during the 1950s. But she never forgot her hometown, and visited frequently, always obliging with a performance.
She was the daughter of William and Ella Bollinger of Lewiston. Her father built the Bollinger Hotel in 1904 and operated it until his death in 1924.
Anne Bollinger graduated from Lewiston High School in 1937. She then attended the Ward-Belmont School at Nashville, Tenn., a girls finishing school. She also attended the University of Idaho and the University of Southern California at Santa Barbara, where she studied voice under her childhood idol, German soprano Lotte Lehmann.
Bollinger made her professional debut in 1944 at the Hollywood Bowl. She went to New York City for additional voice trianing, and signed a contract with the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Company in 1948.
She was a member of the company for four years, and also was voted one of the 10 best-dressed women at New York City one year by an accessories firm.
In 1952, Bollinger left the Met and went to Europe for further study and to sing. She performed at the opening of the new opera house at Hamburg, Germany, an honor never before extended to a foreigner. She sang with the Hamburg Opera Company for three years and gave performances in Switzerland, France, Austria, Italy, England and Ireland.
She also made numerous television appearances in Europe and England. She loved jazz, and sang on a jazz television show three times weekly at Hamburg under the name Chris Parker.
In 1956, she married Jack Neilson, a Shell Oil Co. executive and citizen of Norway. Her husband was an Olympic skier and had held the slalom championship of Norway. They moved to Zurich, Switzerland, after their marriage.
Bollinger's last visit to Lewiston was in January of 1962, when she gave a full-length concert at Lewis-Clark State College. ''If I am ever homesick, it is for Lewiston,'' Bollinger said. ''Lewiston is not like a small town to me. You see, I can so easily remember when Lewiston to me was the biggest city in the world.''
Bollinger died of cancer six months later, at the age of 42. The building at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Eighth Street that now houses the Lewiston Civic Theater is named for Anne Bollinger, Lewiston's own prima donna.
Lewiston Tribune May 6, 1990
Diane Pettit
She came to prominence in March 1948 singing in Bach's St Matthew Passion in Boston under Serge Koussevitzky.
Making her Metropolitan Opera début as Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro in January 1949, she sang with the Company for six seasons until 1953. There her rôles included Tebaldo in Don Carlo, Siebel in Faust, one of the Zaubermädchen in Parsifal, Emma in Khovanshchina and Frasquita in Carmen.
In 1953 she joined the Hamburg State Opera for four years where her rôles included Pamina in Die Zauberflöte in 1955.
She then returned to the United States before her premature death at the age of 39.
=====
Anne Bollinger Weds Chemist
Anne "Betty" Bollinger, Lewiston's fair-haired lyric soprano opera star, is a bride.
She married Jack Nielson of Oslo, Norway, a chemical engineer for Shell Oil Co. at London on Wednesday.
News of the London wedding came in a cablegram yesterday to her mother, Mrs. Ella Bollinger, at Lewiston. Mrs. Bollinger told the Tribune she wasn't surprised, because letters from Betty in recent weeks indicated she was "making up her mind."
The singer is known as Betty by her friends here. She is the daughter of the late William Bollinger, Lewiston hotel man who built the Bollinger Building in 1904.
She attended Lewiston schools and the University of Idaho.
She made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera Co., at New York in 1949.
Her romance with the young chemist began when they met at Hamburg last year through mutual friends of Col. and Mrs. John Gibson of Lewiston.
Mrs. Bollinger met her future son-in-law at Hamburg when she was there for Betty's opening performances with the Hamburg State Opera Co., last October.
He travels a good deal over Europe, Mrs. Bolling said and is now stationed at London. It is expected, however, that the couple will make their home in the United States after Betty's three-year contract with the opera company expires in August.
Lewiston Tribune February 03, 1956 pg. 10
transcribed by Kerry
=====
BEAUTIFUL VOICE TOOK LEWISTON WOMAN TO THE TOP OF HER PROFESSION
When she was singing in the Lewiston High School glee club, she was known as Betty Bollinger. But to the world she became known as Anne Bollinger, prima donna of the Metropolitan Opera Company and on many European stages.
Anne Bollinger, who was born and raised at Lewiston, skyrocketed to international fame with her vibrant soprano voice during the 1950s. But she never forgot her hometown, and visited frequently, always obliging with a performance.
She was the daughter of William and Ella Bollinger of Lewiston. Her father built the Bollinger Hotel in 1904 and operated it until his death in 1924.
Anne Bollinger graduated from Lewiston High School in 1937. She then attended the Ward-Belmont School at Nashville, Tenn., a girls finishing school. She also attended the University of Idaho and the University of Southern California at Santa Barbara, where she studied voice under her childhood idol, German soprano Lotte Lehmann.
Bollinger made her professional debut in 1944 at the Hollywood Bowl. She went to New York City for additional voice trianing, and signed a contract with the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Company in 1948.
She was a member of the company for four years, and also was voted one of the 10 best-dressed women at New York City one year by an accessories firm.
In 1952, Bollinger left the Met and went to Europe for further study and to sing. She performed at the opening of the new opera house at Hamburg, Germany, an honor never before extended to a foreigner. She sang with the Hamburg Opera Company for three years and gave performances in Switzerland, France, Austria, Italy, England and Ireland.
She also made numerous television appearances in Europe and England. She loved jazz, and sang on a jazz television show three times weekly at Hamburg under the name Chris Parker.
In 1956, she married Jack Neilson, a Shell Oil Co. executive and citizen of Norway. Her husband was an Olympic skier and had held the slalom championship of Norway. They moved to Zurich, Switzerland, after their marriage.
Bollinger's last visit to Lewiston was in January of 1962, when she gave a full-length concert at Lewis-Clark State College. ''If I am ever homesick, it is for Lewiston,'' Bollinger said. ''Lewiston is not like a small town to me. You see, I can so easily remember when Lewiston to me was the biggest city in the world.''
Bollinger died of cancer six months later, at the age of 42. The building at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Eighth Street that now houses the Lewiston Civic Theater is named for Anne Bollinger, Lewiston's own prima donna.
Lewiston Tribune May 6, 1990
Diane Pettit
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