Tuna station house

Aroldo Lindi would begin life in Tuna, Sweden. Born Gustav Harald Lindau on 26 May, 1888, the fourth child of seven in the family of the station-master Hans Lindau, and his wife, Adele. Leaving school at the age of twelve, the lad works as a breaker boy in the coal mines. Two years later, with his younger brother, Bror, they will sail before the mast to Boston harbor and promptly 'jump ship', to begin life in the new world.

Harald, 2nd on right; Bror in center

Arthur James, Adella Johnsen, & Lindau

Here he takes work in a carriage shop and as a piano mover, but the dreams of a professional boxing career vanish when vaudeville and musical comedy enter his life... The first stage appearance is in a Boston musical, somewhere around 1907. After a failed dance audition, the manager asks, "can you sing?" After one song , he is placed in the chorus. The manager proclaims "this one will save me money, because he can make more noise than any three others!". This initiation into show business leads to a part in 'The Kissing Girl', a stage production, in 1910. It is during this period Lindau meets Adella Johnsen, his future wife, and Arthur James. They form a vaudeville act known as The Adella James Trio, and present such fare as 'thirteen minutes in one Rube character'. The act has limited success, but from it emerges a talent yet to be fully realized.

Lindau, on left

From these circumstances and cabaret singing in Johnsons Cafe in Newark, N.J., Lindau is invited to perform in one of Dr. Flecks concerts at Hunter College, and here he sings the aria from Pagliacci 'Vesti la giubba'... John Aspegren,a New York financier, then encourages the tenor to appear before the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. As a result, an audition is arranged with Marie Sundelius and Maestro Giuseppe Bamboschek. On their recommendation, funds are provided for further study with Mme. Dean Dossert, in New York City.

"Kissing Girl" 1910

Fleck brochure 1921

Harald Lindau's opera debut is in the Boston Opera House, with the Fleck Opera Company's Aida, in 1916. Following the portrayal of Radames, Canio is the next role, in the same house....... This is also the year the aspiring artist will marry Adella Johnsen [1890-1987], and she will bear him one child, Arthur [1919-1987]. After several years of estrangement during the early twenties, the union will end in a "Mexican" divorce in 1929......An article in a Boston newspaper dated Nov. 13, 1926 reads " After an Aida triumph in Chicago, 'Arnoldo' Lindi allowed the press to say he was a bachelor. Adella's reply is " I am quite willing to let everyone know that he is NOT a bachelor "......In 1929, a Boston paper dated Aug. 19, reveals 'Arnoldo' Lindi has obtained a 'painless ' Mexican divorce ."....Reacting to the news,Mrs. Lindau would offer " when I first met him, he was crude and ill-mannered. My parents said he was not my equal. But there was something about him that fascinated me. I believed him to be a diamond in the rough. I was well along on a concert career [singing]. I gave it all up, I suppose, for love!". Following his debut, the young tenor's appearances with Marie Sundelius and Mabel Garrison in concert are blended with touring the northeast part of the continent in the late teens and early twenties with the Fleck Opera Company. Reviews such as these are received:..... N.Y. Herald-- Carnegie Hall was filled to its capacity. The greatest attraction was Harold Lindau, whose singing of 'Celeste Aida' fairly brought the house to its feet........ Utica Daily Press--a phenomenal voice, Americas future Caruso........ N.Y. Times--a decided vocal talent of the rarest type....... Albany Press-- in Pagliacci, Harold Lindau, tenor, was the big hit! As he finishes the last great tone, the entire audience burst into a storm of applause........ Boston American-- Harold Lindau is a great tenor. He is a fitting star for the greatest opera houses today......... Boston Globe--there were eight curtain calls and shouts of "Bravo" at the end of the third act. Harold Lindau as Radames gave a sonorous performance of 'Celeste Aida'.