Inga Orner (1876-1963), internationally known Norwegian soprano and prima donna of New York’s Metropolitan Opera Company and London’s Royal Covent Garden, made two concert appearances on Kauai in 1915, the first at the Waimea Community Hall on Dec. 18, and
Inga Orner (1876-1963), internationally known Norwegian soprano and prima donna of New York’s Metropolitan Opera Company and London’s Royal Covent Garden, made two concert appearances on Kauai in 1915, the first at the Waimea Community Hall on Dec. 18, and the other at the Lihue Social Hall on Dec. 20.
Never before had a singer of Miss Orner’s distinction performed on Kauai.
Stage decorations for Orner’s 8 p.m. recital at the Waimea Community Hall on Ola Road were arranged by Mr. and Mrs. Eric and Cecilie Knudsen.
Potted ferns and flowers seemed to grow out of the stage, giving it the appearance of a fern bank in a shady place.
Orner, who had performed on hundreds of platforms and stages, had never seen anything like it, noting that “It is most beautiful.”
Accompanying her on piano was Mrs. Helen Grote, the best pianist on the island and the wife of William Henry Grote, manager of Kealia Store.
Orner’s songs included an aria by Faust and an aria from “Carmen,” in which she demonstrated wonderful agility along the scale.
Best liked was the final section of the concert, composed of Scandinavian songs that drew a great round of applause. In response, Orner sang an extra Norwegian song while accompanying herself at the piano.
One concertgoer commented with satisfaction that Orner’s audience was there on time. No annoyance was caused by people coming into the hall during her recital, nor were noisy automobiles to be heard parking outside.
Miss Orner’s concert at the Lihue Social Hall (then located on Rice St., where the Lihue Chevron now stands) at 8 p.m. Dec. 20 -was also enthusiastically applauded.
Following her Kauai recitals, Miss Orner sailed for Maui and Hawaii aboard the steamer “Kinau.”
