Finding aid for the Carmela Caferelli Papers

Biography of Carmela Cafarelli

Carmela Cafarelli (ca. 1880s-1979), was an Italian-American opera star and accomplished harpist who founded her own opera company in 1934. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Miss Cafarelli began her musical education at the age of four under the tutelage of her father, Rocco Cafarelli, a renowned Italian harpist who had immigrated to Cleveland in the 1880s. When Carmela was eight years old, master harpist Henry B. Fabiani settled in Cleveland and became her mentor and tutor until his death in the 1920s. Carmela's talent as a harpist led to important engagements in the United States and abroad; she also became a solo harpist for the Cleveland Orchestra. In addition to harp studies, Carmela studied voice, in Cleveland, with William Saal. Desiring a more demanding education in music, Carmela traveled to Italy to attend the Coservatorio Santa Lucia and the Reale Accademia Filarmonica Romana, earning diplomas in both voice and harp. Returning to the United States in early 1924, Madame Cafarelli studied under Benjamino Gigli and Pietro Audisio, of the New York Metropolitan Opera, who both devoted themselves to preparing her for a career in opera. In 1924, Carmela found herself to be a "woman without a country" when she applied for an American passport to return to Milan, Italy, for an opera performance, and was informed that she was an Italian citizen by right of her husband's allegiance. In 1918, Carmela married Allesandro Chiostergi, an Italian born attorney who had immigrated to Cleveland to study law at Western Reserve University. Although Carmela was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and her husband had become a naturalized American citizen in 1923, she was denied citizenship in both countries under the 1922 Immigration and Naturalization Law which stated that a wife must become a citizen of her husband's country. A legal battle ensued that was not resolved until 1925 when Carmela's status as an American citizen was finally returned to her. Madame Cafarelli obtained numerous honors and awards for her musical talents including the "Serata d'Onore" (Night of Honor), a prestigious Italian opera award. Following the crash of the American stock market in 1929, Carmela returned home to Cleveland and began preparations to open her own opera company. The Cafarelli Opera Company (f. 1934) toured all over the United States and held many charitable performances in Cleveland and other Northeast Ohio locations. Although Carmela Cafarelli stopped performing in 1945, she continued to lead her opera company and became a leading philanthropist and promoter of the arts in Cleveland, until her death in 1979.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Carmela Cafarelli

Scope and Content

The Carmela Cafarelli Papers, 1912-1976, consist of memoirs, musical scores, poetry, scrapbooks, and personal papers.

This collection is of interest to researchers studying women musicians in America, in general, and specifically in Cleveland, Ohio, in the late 19th and early 20th century. The collection also provides insight into the problems faced by Italian-Americans as a consequence of the anti-immigrant hysteria that pervaded American politics and social life in the post-World War I era. Of particular interest to researchers interested in women's history is the fact that Carmela Cafarelli was able to start and maintain her own opera company during the worst years of the depression.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

For photographs of Carmela Cafarelli and her associates see PG 469 Carmela Cafarelli Photographs.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4719 Carmela Cafarelli Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Arlene F. Sego, 1995

Processing Information

Processed by Kristen A. Earnhardt in 1995

Detailed Description of The Collection