WICKHAM, Florence

Florence Pauline Wickham Lueder (1880 – October 20, 1962) was an American composer and contralto who made an international career at major opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. After retiring from the stage, she composed several ballets and operettas.

In 1902 Wickham made her operatic debut as Fides in Wiesbaden. After appearances in Schwerin and Munich, she sang the role of Kundry in Parsifal in Henry W. Savage’s touring opera troupe in America (1904-05). In 1908 she appeared in Wagnerian roles at London’s Covent Garden. On Nov. 17, 1909, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. as Verdi’s Emilia. She remained on its roster until 1912, and then sang in concerts and devoted herself to composition. She wrote the operettas Rosalynd (1938) and The Legend of Hex Mountain (1957).