Alice Eversman (September 4, 1885 — February 1, 1974) was an American operaticsoprano and voice teacher, and later a music critic for over twenty years.
Alice Mary Eversman was born inEffingham, Illinois and raised inWashington, D.C., the daughter of John Eversman Sr. and Frances Caroline Gibbons Eversman. Encouraged by organistJohn W. Bischoff,[1] she studied music at the Peabody Conservatory inBaltimore, Maryland, and inKarlsruhe, Germany.[2]
Eversman sang soprano with theChicago Grand Opera Company.[3] With them, she appeared in a New Year's Day show at the county jail, and "brought tears to the eyes of many prisoners" with her songs.[4] She was a member of theMetropolitan Opera Company for the 1916-1917 season. She was a fortunate understudy on at least two occasions: once in 1912, whenCarmen Melis failed to appear for her starring role inAida,[5] and again as Aida in 1915, whenEster Adaberto was called to Italy on a family emergency.[6] She starred inAida again in 1917, in a stadium performance to benefit the Civilian Relief Committee duringWorld War I.[7] She also gave recitals on theChautauqua circuit, with violinist Elena de Sayn.[8][9][10]
Eversman wrote music criticism forThe Washington Star newspaper from 1932 to 1953. She was also a music critic for the Paris edition of theNew York Herald.[11] In her work as a critic, she reviewed the president's daughter,Margaret Truman, on her singing tour in 1949,[12] and described a 1933 recital at a church auditorium byMarian Anderson, lamenting that "her extraordinary singing was enjoyed only by a small audience."[13] She also reviewed the 1943 production ofLa Traviata by theNational Negro Opera Company, with particular praise forLillian Evanti.[14] She was president of the American Newspaper Women's Club three times, and a member of the Women's National Press Club.[2]
Eversman died from a stroke in 1974, aged 88 years, inFairfax, Virginia.[15] In 2012 her cousin Mary Ellen Eversman published a biography,Alice Eversman: Dramatic Opera Soprano, and gave lectures on the subject.[16]
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