Dora de Phillippe
Dora de Phillippe (born Dora Auspitz; also known as Dora de Fillippe or Dora Auspitz de Fillippe, and later Dora Phinney) was a French-born soprano who made her career in North America. She was born October 16, 1887, in Paris, to Jules Auspitz and Augustine Bruckner Auspitz, and trained in Berlin and Vienna. She began performing in the United States in 1902 and by 1904 was an accomplished singer in San Francisco, singing in soubrette roles. She appeared with the National Opera of Canada, the Chicago Grand Opera Company, and the Aborn Opera Company, among others. She was one of the first to perform Madama Butterfly in English for American audiences and also sang it in Italian; other roles included Nedda in Pagliacci and Micaela in Carmen.
In 1916 she started touring with Chautauqua to bring opera to audiences outside big cities. During World War I she promoted Red Cross efforts to clothe soldiers and gave benefit concerts for the Red Cross and for Liberty Bonds; her performance of La Marseillaise was especially praised. After the war she continued performing and led her own touring company from 1926, while also giving charity concerts such as for the Blind Relief Fund of Philadelphia in 1927. She gave a recital in New York City in 1931.
She married American theatrical manager Arthur S. Phinney in 1909; he died in 1920. Dora de Phillippe died sometime after February 1931.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 08:22 (CET).