# Zinaida Alvers

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**Zinaida Alvers** (October 9, 1904[1] – October 21, 1997), also known as **Zina Alvers**, **Gisela Magasanik, Gisela Adlersberg**, and **Zinaida Adlersberg**, was a Russian-American contralto[2] and mezzo-soprano[3] singer and voice teacher.

## Early life and education

Alvers was born in [Berditchev](/source/Berdychiv), Russia (now in [Zhytomyr Oblast](/source/Zhytomyr_Oblast), Ukraine),[4] the daughter of Naum Magasanik and Charlotte Schreiber Magasanik.[5] Her younger brother [Boris Magasanik](/source/Boris_Magasanik) was a biology professor at [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/source/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology).[6] She studied voice with [Walter Bricht](/source/Walter_Bricht).[7]

## Career

Alvers sang at the [Vienna Volksoper](/source/Vienna_Volksoper) before she moved to New York City in the 1930s.[8][9] Her voice was variously described as contralto or mezzo-soprano in its range.[10] She was in the cast of Strauss's *[Salome](/source/Salome)* at [Lewisohn Stadium](/source/Lewisohn_Stadium) in 1937.[11][12] In 1938 and 1939, she sang at benefit concerts by and for Jewish refugees at [Mecca Temple](/source/New_York_City_Center), sharing the stage with singers Walter Bricht, [Sidor Belarsky](/source/Sidor_Belarsky), [Masha Benya](/source/Mascha_Benya) and [Sarah Gorby](/source/Sarah_Gorby), violinists [Arnold Eidus](/source/Arnold_Eidus) and [Felix Galimir](/source/Felix_Galimir), writer [George Backer](/source/George_Backer), and others.[13][14] In 1943, she appeared on [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) in the musical revue *Chauve-Souris*,[15] and in the casts the Russian operas *[Prince Igor](/source/Prince_Igor)*, [*Rusalka*](/source/Rusalka_(opera)), *[Eugene Onegin](/source/Eugene_Onegin_(opera))* at [Carnegie Hall](/source/Carnegie_Hall).[16][17][18]

Alvers gave concerts at New York's [Town Hall](/source/The_Town_Hall_(New_York_City)) venue in 1941,[19] 1943,[20] 1947[21] and 1948.[22] In 1945, she was a soloist in a performance of [Beethoven's Ninth Symphony](/source/Symphony_No._9_(Beethoven)) at a music festival in South Carolina.[23] In 1946, she was a soloist with the [New York Philharmonic](/source/New_York_Philharmonic) at [Carnegie Hall](/source/Carnegie_Hall),[24] and at concerts of Russian music in Michigan and Indiana, sponsored by the American Russian Fraternal Society.[25][26] She gave a concert for the [Bronxville](/source/Bronxville,_New_York) Women's Club in 1952,[27] and an afternoon concert at Carnegie Recital Hall in 1958.[28][29] "Her singing at its best has a communicative power that carries over the footlights," noted a reviewer in *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*.[28]

## Personal life

In 1929, Alvers married physician and medical researcher David Adlersberg in Vienna; they had a daughter, Margaret.[30] The Adlersbergs were naturalized as United States citizens in 1943. Her husband died in 1960,[31] and she died in 1997.[32]

## References

1. Some sources give September 26, 1904 as her birthdate under the Julian calendar.

1. ["Music Festival Opens at Auditorium Tonight"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbia-record-music-festival-opens/186750909/). *The Columbia Record*. 1945-05-03. p. 1. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251213192134/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbia-record-music-festival-opens/186750909/) 2025-12-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13. – via Newspapers.com.

1. ["Zina Alvers Makes New York Debut at Town Hall Tonight"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-worker-zina-alvers-makes-new-y/186740204/). *The Daily Worker*. 1941-02-03. p. 7. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251223003701/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-worker-zina-alvers-makes-new-y/186740204/) 2025-12-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13. – via Newspapers.com.

1. Gisela Adlersberg's Declaration of Intention and Petition for Naturalization forms, both dated September 30, 1936; via Ancestry.

1. Lawrence, J. M. (2014-02-02). ["Boris Magasanik, pioneer in molecular biology at MIT"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-boris-magasanik-pionee/186754420/). *The Boston Globe*. pp. B10. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251224175331/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-boris-magasanik-pionee/186754420/) 2025-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13. – via Newspapers.com.

1. McElheny, Victor K. (1967-05-28). ["Russian-Born Magasanik Studies Cell Controls; M.I.T's New Biology Head"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-russian-born-magasanik/186753750/). *The Boston Globe*. p. 88. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251223175409/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-russian-born-magasanik/186753750/) 2025-12-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. ["Walter Bricht the Teacher"](https://www.walterbricht.com/the-teacher.html). *Walter Bricht*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250805235444/https://www.walterbricht.com/the-teacher.html) 2025-08-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. ["Concert to Aid Refugees; Program Will Be Given Feb. 19 by European Artists"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/02/05/91550342.html). *The New York Times*. February 5, 1939. p. 29. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. ["Concert Listed on Wednesday at Toms River"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-concert-listed-on-wedn/186751867/). *Asbury Park Press*. 1950-10-08. p. 4. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251224091248/https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-concert-listed-on-wedn/186751867/) 2025-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13. – via Newspapers.com.

1. ["Contralto Will Sing at the Tuesday Musicale Program"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-haven-tribune-contralto-will-sing/186752001/). *Grand Haven Tribune*. 1948-10-16. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-12-13. – via Newspapers.com.

1. New York Philharmonic. [*Stadium-NY Philharmonic Printed Program (Stadium Concert Stadium Concert), Jul 01, 1937; Jul 02, 1937 at Lewisohn Stadium Lewisohn Stadium in Manhattan, NY Manhattan, NY; Vladimir Golschmann and Martin Pistreich, conductors.*](https://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/adf01916-9903-4cad-ae9e-97b8546eaa7e-0.1). Manhattan, NY Manhattan, NY. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251222233821/https://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/adf01916-9903-4cad-ae9e-97b8546eaa7e-0.1) December 22, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 13, 2025.

1. ["5,500 Hear 'Salome'; Second Performance of Opera Is Staged at Lewisohn Stadium"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1937/07/03/94396921.html). *The New York Times*. July 3, 1937. p. 18. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251223005321/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1937/07/03/94396921.html) 2025-12-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. ["Concert and Ball of the Intercollegiate Russian Students of America (advertisement)"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-worker-concert-and-ball-of-the/186751290/). *The Daily Worker*. 1938-12-24. p. 4. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251213192134/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-worker-concert-and-ball-of-the/186751290/) 2025-12-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13. – via Newspapers.com.

1. ["Refugee Artists Give Concert"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/02/20/94680636.html). *The New York Times*. February 20, 1939. p. 17. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251222225816/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/02/20/94680636.html) 2025-12-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. Nathan, George Jean (1972). [*The theatre book of the year, 1943-1944 : a record and an interpretation*](http://archive.org/details/theatrebookofyea0000nath_f5y6). Rutherford [N.J.] : Fairleigh Dickinson University Press; Cranbury, N.J. : Associated University Presses. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-8386-7962-3.

1. ["RUSSIAN OPERA CO. GIVES 'PRINCE IGOR'; Kachouk Offers Borodin Work, Presented in Costume Instead of Usual Concert Form"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1943/12/30/83961274.html). *The New York Times*. December 30, 1943. p. 11. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251223153746/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1943/12/30/83961274.html) 2025-12-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. ["'Russalka' to be Presented"](https://archive.org/details/sim_musical-america_1943-01-25_63_2/mode/2up?q=Zinaida+Alvers). *Musical America*. **63** (2): 11. January 25, 1943. – via Internet Archive.

1. ["Russians Give 'Eugene Onegin'"](https://archive.org/details/sim_musical-america_1943-11-10_63_14/mode/2up?q=Zinaida+Alvers). *Musical America*. **63** (14): 24. November 10, 1943. – via Internet Archive.

1. ["Zina Alvers in Debut"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/02/04/85210319.html). *The New York Times*. February 4, 1941. p. 19. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251222232846/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1941/02/04/85210319.html) 2025-12-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. ["Concerts"](https://archive.org/details/sim_musical-america_1943-06_63_9/page/14/mode/2up?q=Zinaida+Alvers). *Musical America*. **63** (9): 14. June 1943. – via Internet Archive.

1. ["Zinaida Alvers Gives a Program of Songs"](https://www.nytimes.com/1947/01/22/archives/zinaida-alvers-gives-a-program-of-songs.html). *The New York Times*. January 22, 1947. p. 30. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180312085628/https://www.nytimes.com/1947/01/22/archives/zinaida-alvers-gives-a-program-of-songs.html) 2018-03-12 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. ["Zinaida Alvers Returns Russian Contralto Gives Fourth Recital at Town Hall"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1948/12/06/97155063.html). *The New York Times*. December 6, 1948. p. 29. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251222235350/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1948/12/06/97155063.html) 2025-12-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. ["Events in the World of Music; Jazz Maestro Prepares for Concert Debut--Pianist and Violinist Study Mozart"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1945/02/11/305660302.html). *The New York Times*. February 11, 1945. p. 121. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251222234816/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1945/02/11/305660302.html) 2025-12-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. [Carnegie Pop Concert program](https://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/21ee06c5-967d-49b9-a8de-f22f25eb35ab-0.1) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251208080721/https://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/21ee06c5-967d-49b9-a8de-f22f25eb35ab-0.1) 2025-12-08 at the Wayback Machine (June 14, 1946), at NYPhil Digital Archives.

1. ["Concert Offers Music of Russia"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-concert-offers-mu/186751612/). *The Grand Rapids Press*. 1946-02-18. p. 15. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251223105707/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-concert-offers-mu/186751612/) 2025-12-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13. – via Newspapers.com.

1. ["Russian Group to Sing Here"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-russian-group-to/186752268/). *The South Bend Tribune*. 1946-02-24. p. 19. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251223030650/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-russian-group-to/186752268/) 2025-12-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13. – via Newspapers.com.

1. ["Play, Concert Scheduled at Women's Club"](https://news.hrvh.org/veridian/cgi-bin/senylrc-bronxville?a=d&d=bronxvillereporterBRONXVILLE19521120.1.9&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------). *Bronxville Reporter*. November 20, 1952. p. 9. – via Hudson River Valley Heritage Historical Newspapers.

1. ["Song Recital Given by Zinaida Alvers"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1958/02/02/91383565.html). *The New York Times*. February 2, 1958. p. 79. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251222230049/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1958/02/02/91383565.html) 2025-12-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. ["Twilight Concert"](https://archive.org/details/sim_musical-america_1958-12-01_78_14/mode/2up?q=Zinaida+Alvers). *Musical America*. **78** (14): 26. December 1, 1958. – via Internet Archive.

1. ["Adlersberg, David"](https://www.dgim-history.de/en/biography/Adlersberg;David;1027). *Gedenken und Erinnern, DGIM*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251223004347/https://www.dgim-history.de/en/biography/Adlersberg;David;1027) 2025-12-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. ["Dr. David Adlersberg"](https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/01/11/99940766.html). *The New York Times*. January 11, 1960. p. 45. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230722071458/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/01/11/99940766.html) 2023-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

1. ["Deaths; Zina Adlersberg"](http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/23/business/paid-notice-deaths-adlersberg-zina.html). *The New York Times*. October 23, 1997. pp. D27. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171228080723/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/23/business/paid-notice-deaths-adlersberg-zina.html) 2017-12-28 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-13.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zinaida Alvers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinaida_Alvers) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinaida_Alvers?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.