Olive Nayan Fremstad

Olive Nayan Fremstad , 1871-1951, Swedish-American soprano; pupil of Lilli Lehmann. She came to the United States as a child. After her European debut (Cologne, 1895), she sang contralto roles until she returned to the United States to sing dramatic soprano parts at the Metropolitan Opera, New York (1903-14). She retired in 1920.

Fremstad, Olive [ Rundquist, Olivia] (b Stockholm, 1871; d Irvington, NY, 1951). Swed. soprano (Amer. cit.). Her adoptive parents emigrated to Minnesota when she was in her early teens, when she expected to become pianist, having made recital début at age 12. Opera début Boston 1890 ( Lady Saphir in Patience). Went to NY 1890, becoming cont. soloist at St Patrick's Cath. Lilli Lehmann convinced her she was sop. or mez. Soloist 1895 at Cologne Fest., leading to engagement with Cologne Opera, début 1895 (Azucena in Il trovatore). Bayreuth 1896; London 1902; Munich Opera 1900–3; NY Met 1903;. Increasingly specialized in Wagner roles e.g. Kundry, Isolde, and especially Brünnhilde, of which she was one of greatest interpreters, but sang Carmen opposite Caruso 1906 and Salome in the single perf. at NY Met 1907. Farewell appearance at Met 1914, but sang opera at Boston and Chicago, and gave final recital, NY 1920.