Marcella
Sembrich
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Looking out over Lake George from the Sembrich Museum Lookout, a view Mme. Sembrich enjoyed daily with the Adirondack Mountains in the distance |
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Step back into another era in Bolton Landing, nestled in the Adirondack Mountain Region of New York State.
Experience a bit of Lake George's Golden Age, at the former teaching studio of the Metropolitan Opera Diva Marcella Sembrich; pianist, violinist, teacher, Polish patriot and benefactor. This quaint building is one of the few open to the public from the "Great and Gracious" period of northern New York State's history of the early 20th century.
Here her teaching studio was the focal point of Mme. Sembrich's summers at her lakeside mansion, named Bay View. Juilliard and Curtis Institute vocal students sought instruction by the acclaimed Marcella Sembrich, in what is now a Memorial Museum. More details
In a rare gem of estate architecture, marvel at Mme. Sembrich's 100 year old costumes, period furnishings and art from her fine homes. |
The Museum is filled with memorabilia of an international operatic career spanning over 50 years, including paintings, sculptures, accolades, personal effects, music, and autographed photographs of Sembrich contemporaries such as Mahler, Rachmaninoff, Caruso, Liszt, Brahms and Puccini. |
Marcella Sembrich, age 30 painted by Paul Meyerheim in Dresden, Germany about 1888. |
On a wooded peninsula, today this is a unique "time capsule oasis" situated among commercial resort properties. Visitors can walk along 1,000 feet of Lake George shoreline paths, experiencing the pristine, natural beauty of this Queen of American Lakes among towering 200 year old white pines. The Sembrich Museum property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
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Mme. Sembrich's 1905 Steinway piano played by Ignance Paderewski and Joseph Hoffman. Piano restored by Steinway & Sons in 2005. |
Marcella Sembrich (1858-1935), internationally known Polish soprano, first sang with the New York Metropolitan Opera in its initial season, 1883; retired in 1909; sang concert tours until 1917; gained preeminence as a vocal teacher at Curtis Institute and Juilliard School; summered in the Adirondack Mountains at Lake Placid from 1915 to 1921 and here on Lake George from 1922 to 1934.
The Studio Museum first opened in 1937 by Mme. Sembrich's daughter-in-law, Julliette deCoppet Stengel, whose musical family founded the Flonzaley Quartet (1903-1929). The Museum, in continuous operation since 1937, opens daily June 15th to September 15th, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM EDT.
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View of Lake George through the Bay Room window of the Sembrich Museum. Here Mme. Sembrich enjoyed lunch between vocal lessons. |
Throughout the summer months, there are several planned events, such as concerts by renowned singers, composers, and musicians, and symposiums by opera historians. A schedule of the summer events is posted on this site. For further information about programs, or to purchase one of the books, tapes or CD's - write, call, or use e-mail.
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The placid hydrangea bay frequented by herons and ducks, is on the beautiful approach to the Museum on Sembrich Point. |
The Marcella Sembrich Memorial Association, Inc.
is a membership association whose mission is to preserve the Sembrich collection and to maintain the memorial Museum in the singer's former teaching studio. This Museum was established in 1937 by Juliette deCoppet Stengel, wife of William Marcel Stengel after the death of his mother Marcella Sembrich-Stengel in 1935.
Initially the museum memorial was financially supported by Juliette
Stengel, who founded MSMA in 1940. Since her death in 1961, memberships and public
contributions have been necessary to maintain and preserve the collection and museum in
Bolton Landing.
