Collection Guide
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Neblett, Carol (papers)
2019.012.s.r
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Leatherby Libraries
Title: Carol Neblett papers
Creator:
Neblett, Carol
source:
Schermerhorn, Stefan
Identifier/Call Number: 2019.012.s.r
Physical Description:
3 Linear feet
8 containers total (6 legal-sized document boxes, 1 half legal-sized document box, and 1 flat box)
Date (inclusive): 1954-2017
Abstract: This collection includes a select number of professional files of opera singer and Opera Chapman artist-in-residence Carol
Neblett.
Language of Material: While a majority of the papers are in English, Series 3 and 4 include materials in Spanish, German, French, or Italian.
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Adrienne Akre and Stefan Schermerhorn, in July 2018 and July 2019. Transferred from Dr. Peter L. Atherton, Robert
and Norma Lineberger Endowed Chair of Music in the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music at Chapman University's College of Performing
Arts.
This collection is arranged into four series:
- Series 1, Correspondence, 1971-2012
- Series 2, Project files, 1954-2017
- Series 3, Ephemera, 1962-2016
- Series 4, Audio recordings, 1972-1995
Folders within the series are predominantly arranged in chronological order.
Series 1's correspondence materials are further divided by type of correspondent into files on Opera colleagues, Columbia
Artists Management, Inc. (CAMI), Fan mail, "Neblett correspondence," Children fan mail, and Business correspondence.
Carol Neblett (1946-2017) was a world-renowned American operatic soprano whose career spanned more than forty years. She was
born in Modesto, California on February 1, 1946 and raised in Redondo Beach, California. Neblett attended classes at University
of California at Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and El Camino College. At nineteen, she made her professional
debut at Carnegie Hall in New York singing Handel's
Esther and shortly after she sang the role of the Angel in Ottorino Respighi's
Laud to the Nativity at the Los Angeles Music Center.
Neblett went on to appear around the world in major roles with opera companies in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires,
Vienna, Salzburg, and Hamburg, as well as the Royal Opera in Covent Garden, London. Throughout her career, she sang leading
and prominent roles in
La Bohème,
Manon Lescaut,
Louise,
Don Giovanni,
Marriage of Figaro,
Faust, and
Tosca, among others. She also made countless recordings.
Neblett notably sang in
Tosca in 1976 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago with Luciano Pavarotti. Another highlight of Neblett's career was singing the part
of Minnie in
La Fanciulla del West with Plácido Domingo in 1977 for Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee celebration in Covent Garden. She made her Metropolitan
Opera (Met) debut in 1979 as Senta in
The Flying Dutchman and continued to sing with the Met until 1993. In Neblett's varied career, she appeared on
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and on a televised tribute to George London at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
In the academic world, Neblett was associate director of Opera Chapman, as well as artist-in-residence and a faculty member
of the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music in Chapman University's College of Performing Arts in Orange, CA. She also conducted
master classes for young artist programs across the United States.
Neblett studied under several prestiguious teachers and coaches, such as Lotte Lehmann, George London, Rosa Ponselle, Alice
Ehlers, Esther Andreas and Jascha Heifetz, who was her musical mentor and friend for more than 30 years.
In her personal life, Neblett was involved with the National Association of the Teachers of Singing (NATS) and performed in
charity concerts for causes including AIDS and homeless mothers. She was married and divorced three times. Carol Neblett passed
away on November 23, 2017 and was survived by a son, Stefan Schermerhorn and a daughter, Adrienne Akre Spear. She was predeceased
by daughter Marianne Akre.
[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Carol Neblett papers (2019.012.s.r), Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special
Collections and Archives, Chapman University, CA. For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional
information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder
locations.
Processed by Annie Tang and Claudia Horn in November 2019. Biographical note written by Horn. Last updated by Victoria Perez
as of February 2023.
Files were left predominantly in Neblett's original organization.
This collection includes a select number of Neblett's professional files: correspondence, business papers, season schedules,
materials regarding the Opera Chapman program, her curriculum vitae (resume), TV appearance materials, papers regarding recordings,
newspaper clippings of her in reviews and features, performance programs, and audio recordings of her performances.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.
Cariaga, Daniel. "From Budding Violinist to Operatic Diva: American Soprano Carol Neblett Sings Her First Aida Tonight."
Los Angeles Times, January 29, 1988. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-29-ca-26449-story.html.
Chapman University, College of Performing Arts. "Meet Artist-in-Residence Carol Neblett." January 31, 2012. https://blogs.chapman.edu/copa/2012/01/31/meet-artist-in-residence-carol-neblett/.
Chapman University, College of Performing Arts. "Passing of Artist-in-Residence Carol Neblett." November 28, 2017. https://blogs.chapman.edu/copa/2017/11/28/passing-of-artist-in-residence-carol-neblett/.
Royal Opera House. "Carol Neblett, Performance Database Search." Accessed January 31, 2023. https://rohcollections.org.uk/SearchResults.aspx?searchtype=performance&performance=17170&person=carol%20neblett.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Chapman University -- Colleges and Schools -- Conservatory of Music
Opera
Schermerhorn, Stefan
Neblett, Carol