The Operatic Careers of Polish Transmigrants Marcella Sembrich and Lola Beeth on World Stages

peer-reviewed article

Mariola Szydłowska

mariola.szydlowska1@gmail.com
Freelance researcher (Poland)
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8105-8540

Abstract

This article is devoted to the figures of Marcella Sembrich and Lola Beeth, Polish opera singers who, having received education in Lviv, developed their artistic careers outside their homeland as transmigrants. They both integrated into the societies and cultures of their destination countries, contributing to their development while maintaining ties with Poland through interpersonal contacts as well as artistic and political activity. The author traces the consecutive stages of her protagonists’ lives: educational migration, the course of their artistic careers, their links with Poland, as well as their legacy and the memory of them. She points out that their world careers were influenced by diverse factors; alongside talent, motivation, and hard work, there was also their ability to create a public image, as well as the involvement of other people: family members, teachers, benefactors, managers, opera impresarios and managing directors.


Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Keywords:

Marcella Sembrich, Lola Beeth, opera singers, transmigration

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Published
2025-12-15

Cited by

Szydłowska, M. (2025) “The Operatic Careers of Polish Transmigrants Marcella Sembrich and Lola Beeth on World Stages”, Pamiętnik Teatralny, 74(4), pp. 65–90. doi: 10.36744/pt.4262.

Authors

Mariola Szydłowska 
mariola.szydlowska1@gmail.com
Freelance researcher Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8105-8540

MARIOLA SZYDŁOWSKA – theatre historian. She researches the history of Polish and Jewish theatre in Lviv until 1945, as well as the careers of Polish actors and singers in the United States.



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