Liebling, Estelle (1880-1970) | University of Illinois Archives

Estelle Liebling (1880-1970) was born in New York City. The Daughter of Max Liebling, a composer and pupil of Franz Liszt, and Matilde Liebling, Estelle began her vocal studies with Selma Nicklass-Kempner at the Stern Conservatory in Berlin and later studied with Mathilde Marchesi in Paris. She gave her professional debut as a coloratura soprano in 1900 in Dresden, singing the role of Lucia in Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. After performing in a variety of productions around Europe, she gave her US debut at the Metropolitan Opera, singing in a production of Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots in 1902. The following year she performed opposite of Enrico Caruso as Musetta in the Met's production of La Boheme.

Liebling joined the Sousa Band during the 3rd 1902 tour, making her debut with the band during an Atlantic City matinnee performance on August 9, 1902. She sang with the group during the 1903 European Tour as a soloist alongside other soloists Caroline Montefiore, Maud Powell, Walter Rogers, Emil Kenecke, Franz Helle, Simone Mantia, Arthur Pryor, Marshall Lufsky, and Jean Moeremans. Liebling performed with the Sousa band during both the St. Louis and Pittsburgh Expositions. She was made a featured soloist for the band's December 1904 appearances at Carnegie Hall and the 1905 appearance at the Hippodrome. Following this tour Liebling married Arthur Rembrandt Mosler. On November 1, 1908, Liebling rejoined the Sousa Band for a final performance with the band that took place at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

Throughout the 1910s and 20s, Liebling's performances became less frequent as she began lecturing, working as an arranger and orchestrator, and raising her son Arthur Jr. From 1936 to 1938, she served as a member of the voice faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Liebling died at the age of 90 in New York.