Vivian Grace Holt (May 10, 1885 – July 7, 1945), also known as Vivienne Holt and Vivian Holt-Ruben, was an American soprano singer who performed in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

, on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

, in recordings and on radio, usually paired with pianist and composer Lillian Rosedale Goodman.

Early life and education

Holt was born in

Peru, Indiana Peru is a city in, and the county seat of, Miami County, Indiana, Miami County, Indiana, United States. It is north of Indianapolis. The population was 11,073 at the 2020 census, making it the most populous community in Miami County. Peru is loc ...

, the daughter of Clarence Edwin Holt and Adele Durand Holt. Her parents divorced in 1895; her father was later found guilty of

bigamy In a culture where only monogamous relationships are legally recognized, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. A legal or de facto separation of the couple does not alter their mar ...

. Her father was an actor, and her mother was an actress, so she was on the stage from early childhood. She trained as a singer with Lazar Samoiloff and Francis Stuart. "She is a good example of the Samoiloff ''

bel canto , )—with several similar constructions (, , , pronounced in English as )—is a term with several meanings that relate to Italian singing, and whose definitions have often been misunderstood. ''Bel canto'' was not only seen as a vocal technique ...

'' method of singing," reported ''

Musical Courier The ''Musical Courier'' was a weekly 19th- and 20th-century American music trade magazine that began publication in 1880. The publication included editorials, obituaries, announcements, scholarly articles and investigatory writing about musical ...

'' in 1916. "Her breath control is perfect. Her pianos and crescendos, fortes and diminuendos are exquisite. Her trills and staccatos and her tone attack in general is delightful to hear."

Career

Holt was a

coloratura soprano A coloratura soprano () is a type of operatic soprano voice that specializes in music that is distinguished by agile run (music), runs, leaps and Trill (music), trills. The term ''coloratura'' refers to the elaborate ornamentation of a melody, whi ...

singer. She was featured in a concert held at Ella Backus-Behr's New York City studio in 1911. From 1913 to 1915, she was sometimes billed as Vivian Holt-Ruben. Holt made dozens of recordings between 1913 and 1929, mostly for the Victor label, many of them duets with pianist Lillian Rosedale Goodman. She and Rosedale sang together in vaudeville and

lyceum The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies among countries; usually it is a type of secondary school. Basic science and some introduction to ...

circuits in the 1910s. Holt performed in Broadway musicals with Rosedale, including ''Hello, Alexander'' (1919) with

Sophie Tucker Sophie Tucker (born Sofia Kalish; January 13, 1886 – February 9, 1966) was a Russian-born American singer, comedian, actress, and radio personality. Known for her powerful delivery of comical and risqué songs, she was one of the most popula ...

, and '' Red Pepper'' (1922). Holt introduced Rosedale to Chicago lawyer Mark O. Goodman, which led to Rosedale's marriage in 1921, and the end of the women's professional partnership. Holt made recordings and toured with Myrtle Leonard in 1923 and 1924, and sang with tenor Robert Roberts in 1926. Holt and Rosedale were back together for a radio concert in 1931. In her later years she was an actress in radio programs.

Personal life

Holt was married briefly, and had a daughter, Eleanor Ruben. Holt died from a heart attack in 1945, at the age of 60, in New York City.

References

External links

"The Last Rose of Summer"
(1921), a recording of Holt singing, on Internet Archive
"Sweet Hawaiian Moonlight"
(1919), a recording of Holt and Rosedale singing together, on Internet Archive {{DEFAULTSORT:Holt, Vivian 1885 births 1945 deaths People from Peru, Indiana American sopranos American vaudeville performers Radio actresses