Lisa Roma

Lisa Roma (1892–1965) was an American soprano who toured in the United States with composer Maurice Ravel in 1928.

She was chair of grand opera in the College of Music at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles beginning in 1930.

She became an accountant and found time to study music, tennis, fencing and dancing, all of which she taught to others.

Eventually she became a soloist for the Philadelphia Choral Society, then was a student of David Bispham, the first American operatic baritone to win an international reputation.

In 1920, during a concert with Herbert at Willow Grove Park near Philadelphia, Roma was called out of the chorale to substitute as the lead in Naughty Marietta: The featured singer from the Metropolitan Opera had developed laryngitis.

At noon, she had snatched a bit of lunch and hurried to the roof of the large business block, where she served as tennis and fencing instructor to the employees.

[After Roma was summoned by Herbert to take the role, someone] was found who would lend her evening dress, and the exchange was made.

At the close of the remarkable performance, Victor Herbert took her hand and drew her up on the block beside him.

Traveling to Germany, she was engaged at the Berlin State Opera, where, once again, the scheduled star was taken ill and Roma was asked to sing in her place — the role of Mimi in Puccini's La Boheme.

[1] In 1930, she made a tour of Europe "as interpreter for the famous French composer, Maurice Ravel."