Susan Metcalfe Casals

Susan Metcalfe Casals (1878 – 1959) was an American mezzo-soprano who married renowned cellist Pau Casals. Her mother was Helene, a prominent member of New Rochelle, New York society. In later years Dr Metcalfe practised in Florence, Italy, and Susan was born there in 1878 and educated in Conservatories in Italy and France. She also had a brother Louis and sisters Marie and Helen Frances Metcalfe (b. 1880), who married the American socialist architect Herman Kobbé.

Connection with Pablo Casals As a recitalist, Susan Casals made her debut in New York in 1897 and gave few, but very select recitals each year. In 1904 she met the cellist Pablo Casals, gave a recital with him (Casals accompanying her at the piano), and briefly developed a 'fervid' friendship, which however was abated when Casals established his close relationship with Guilhermina Suggia in 1906. In 1908 Metcalfe embarked on a European tour during which she sang for the British royal family. They met again after Casals had given a concert in Berlin, and were married on April 4, 1914, at New Rochelle. After this they moved together to Europe. The marriage lasted until 1928, when they were formally separated, but they did not divorce until 1957. In a Maennerchor Artist Concert of January 1917 she sings a similar group in the first part, and songs by Schumann and Emánuel Moór in the second. They gave concerts in America, Europe, England, Mexico and Cuba.

The marriage with Casals was stormy, and following their separation in 1929, Mme. Metcalfe Casals lived in Paris. Her last known recital was at the École Normale de Musique there in 1951.

Later she moved back to the U.S. to live with her sisters, and died at Bergen County, New Jersey in 1959. and some titles have been included in re-issue compilations such as Schubert Lieder on Record, etc. The titles were as follows: Franz Schubert: Lied der Mignon Nachtstück Die junge Nonne Liebesbotschaft Die Liebe hat gelogen Robert Schumann: Lotosblume Schneeglockchen Zum Schluss Herzeleid Liebeslied Gabriel Fauré: Soir Nell Le secret Le don silencieux

Archive Collection of 53 letters of Casals and Metcalfe, etc., c1915-1918: George P. Moore collection, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution: Microfilm reel 5743. Susan Metcalfe Letters 1902-1922 (69 items): Jackson Library, Greensboro, University of North Carolina: MSS 246.

Notes and references