Eleonora de Cisneros

Life & Legacy

Eleonora de Cisneros (October 31, 1878 – February 3, 1934) was an American opera singer (Mezzo-Soprano). She was a singer for the Metropolitan Opera company and became one of their principal singers. She was the first American-trained opera singer hired by the Metropolitan Opera company. During the early twentieth century, she performed at major opera houses in the United States, Cuba, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South America and Russia.
Cisneros toured the United States during World War I, singing in plays at no charge to raise funds for the Red Cross and marketing millions of dollars' worth of Liberty bonds.
De Cisneros was known for her wide vocal range and the high volume of her contralto voice. At 6 feet 2 inches, she also was perfectly cast for the stage heroine roles that she portrayed. She retired from the stage around 1929, moved back to New York and became a voice teacher.