Adele Epstein, Opera Singer, New York

The article is below.

Adele Epstein was a coloratura soprano at Steinway Hall, New York City, 1930.  She married Jacob Zachary Stein on June 4, 1933.

Adele Epstein Sings Opera in New York City (1930)

New York Times, Feb 17, 1930

Below is the story, written by her son, Howard Stein.

The name of Alexander Aslanoff in the article is an important one.  Adele/Mom owned an early recording studio with Alexander Aslanoff and his wife Nadine.  Madame Aslanoff, as she was called, was a voice teacher (and harpist) who worked with Mom and Alexander was formerly a well known musician -- and conductor -- in Moscow and Paris before immigrating (1930) to the US from Baku, Russia (now Azerbaijan).  [Aslanoff was also conductor of the Russian Imperial Opera in St. Petersburg].  The studio was called Harmonie Recording Studio and it was located in the Ansonia Hotel on Broadway in New York (I think the Hotel still exists.).

Ansonia Hotel on Broadway,
New York City, 1904

The Aslanoffs were part of a large immigree music community that Barnett enjoyed and assisted until the depression made it impossible.  Then a second site was opened and Grandfather Barnett Epstein built a building for it (and as a studio for Adele) at the family property on Cone Hill Road in Richmond, Mass.  The building was named Harmonie Lodge.  Cousin Jane tells me that it was subsequently renovated into a conventional home, but I remember it as having a huge porch, a single main room with a two storey curved wood ceiling and a huge fireplace, and a balcony.  

Grandpa loved to build.  The property was about 40 acres.  It had the main house for Grandparents, Harmonie Lodge, a shower house behind the Lodge near the badminton court, and a two family property with one unit for my family and a modest upstairs apartment for Sam & Ethel Frink who were the part time caretakers. It also had a five car garage including a bay for the town ambulance which was stored there (a late 1930's Packard if I remember correctly).  All situated around a round driveway (on which I learned to drive, on a full shift 1944 Plymouth when I was about 12, including continuing on the loop around on the public dirt road).

The property was so big it was sold in two pieces.  I think the Frinks bought the two family/garage.  Jane knows the lineage of both pieces.



Below is Adele's mandolin, restored by Zaq Roberts.  The mandolin is left of the door in the picture.



Here is another photo of Adele Epstein (Stein).

Adele Stein (born Epstein)
New York City, circa 1950

Here is Adele as a child, playing piano.  New York City

 
Here is Adele as a young child.

Adele Stein
NYC, 1910

Adele's timeline. [MyHeritage.com]

Adele E. Stein Obituary

STEIN-Adele E. On September 7, 2002. Wife of the late J. Zachary Stein. Sister of the late Clarence Epstein. Mother of Dr. Ann S. Roberts and Howard S. Stein. Grandmother of J Zachary and Luke Stein, Jennifer Mammen, Justine, Clement and Zachary Roberts. Great-grandmother of Eva Mammen. Funeral services Tuesday, 11:30 AM, Frank E. Campbell The Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Avenue at 81st Street. Friends may call Monday evening, 5-8 PM.

STEIN-Adele. The Board and Staff of WNYC Radio express our sympathy to Howard S. Stein, longtime WNYC Trustee and Treasurer.