Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Dalis-Loinaz (Irene) Papers
MSS.2015.02.16
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Irene Dalis-Loinaz Papers
creator:
Dalis, Irene
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2015.02.16
Physical Description:
70 boxes
(62 linear feet)
Physical Description:
1 flat file drawers
File Cabinet 5 Drawer 8 (Vault 1)
Date (inclusive): 1831-2015
Physical Description: Librettos and vocal scores in Series V Subseries I are in poor condition.
Abstract: The Irene Dalis-Loinaz Papers (1831-2015, bulk 1950-2000) consists of correspondence, adminstrative records, notes, vocal
and music scores, photographs, and opera publications, audiovisual materials, and relating to the life and career of Mezzo-Soprano
opera singer Irene Dalis (1925-2014).
The Irene Dalis-Loinaz Papers (1831-2015, bulk 1950-2000) contain vocal scores, librettos, writings, opera research materials,
correspondence, photographs, administrative records, and audiovisual materials relating to her career as an international
mezzo-soprano vocalist, the development of Opera San Jose, and, to a lesser extent, her tenure as professor at San Jose State
University.
The bulk of the collection is related to Dalis’ career as an opera singer as well as the founder of Opera San Jose. It is
comprised of librettos, annotated vocal scores, correspondence, contracts, photographs, newspaper clippings, and audio-visual
recordings relating to her education, career, and subsequent fame. The collection also contains notebooks, family files, photographs
and audiovisual materials detailing aspects of Dalis’ personal life. Also included are reports, news-clippings, and other
opera- and music-related publications in regards to the development of Opera San Jose and Dalis' own interests in music.
The majority of the files in the collection retain their original folder titles when applicable.
Yvonne Dalis-Loinaz, known by her stage name Irene Dalis, was born in 1925 to immigrant parents in San Jose, California. Irene
grew up musically inclined and went on to study music pedagogy at San Jose State University. While pursuing her degree Dalis
studied piano and singing. After her graduation in 1946, at the behest of her sister, she continued her musical education
at Columbia University not as a pianist but a mezzo-soprano vocalist. While at Columbia, Yvonne studied under the tutelage
of Edyth Walker, Paul Althouse, and Harry Wilson, recognized as renowned vocal coaches. In 1951, Yvonne was awarded a Fulbright
scholarship to study opera in Europe, where she attended Universita per Stranieri in Perogia and Giuseppi Verdi Conservatory
in Milan. By 1952, Dalis had her first opera contract with the famed Bayreuth in Germany. During her time in Europe Dalis
was coached by Dr. Otto Mueller and Marth Mödl. Concurrently, she caught the attention of New York Met scout, Rudolf Bing,
who told her to change her name to Irene Dalis as her stage name. With Bing’s interests Irene built recognition and popularity
which lead to a contract with the New York Metropolitan Opera. In 1957, Dalis performed her first opera at the Met, Don Carlo.
Irene Dalis performed in twenty two roles over nineteen seasons at the Met until 1976. In addition,Dalis was a frequent leading
guest artist from London, Opera San Francisco, Hollywood Bowl, to being the first American Kundry in the Bayreuth Festival.
By the 1980s, Dalis retired from singing professionally but not entirely out of the Opera community. Upon her her retirement
from the Met, she received a presidential appointment as a professor of Music at San Jose State University. During her tenure
she also established San Jose Opera. There she established a permanent home and organization that flourishes today. Until
her death in 2014 Dalis remained a prominent figure with Opera San Jose and the San Jose State University Music department,
and greater opera community.
The Irene Dalis-Loinaz Papers are arranged in ten series: Series I: Biographical; Series II: Correspondence; Series III: Mezzo-Soprano
Career; Series IV: Opera San Jose; Series V: Musical Scores and Librettos; Series VI: Opera Publications; Series VII: Photographs;
Series VIII: Clippings; Series IX: Awards and Memorabilia; and Series X: Audiovisual.
The collection is open for research.
Copyright has been assigned to the San Jose State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission
to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions also apply
to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Irene Dalis-Loinaz Papers, MSS-2015-02-16, San Jose State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Books that were a part of the original donation are now part of the Special Collections library.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Opera -- California -- San Jose
Opera San José
Metropolitan Opera (New York, N.Y.)
Bayreuther Festspiele
Mezzo-sopranos
San Francisco Opera
Women opera producers and directors -- California -- San Jose
Dalis, Irene