Gladys Swarthout
Toronto Daily Star, May 14 1935
Gladys Swarthout (1900-1969) auditioned for the Chicago Civic Opera Company while still a music student; she landed a place there despite knowing no operatic roles at the time. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York in 1929 and appeared in a number of movies in the 1930s. She is the only woman ever to have sung in front of the entire Congress of the United States.
YouTube has a wide selection of samples of her performances, including two arias from Carmen in 1936.
Created August 29, 2025.