Eleonora de Cisneros
American opera singer (1878-1934)
Eleonora de Cisneros (October 31, 1878 – February 3, 1934) was an American opera singer (Mezzo-Soprano). She was a singer for the Metropolitan Opera company and became one of their principal singers. She was the first American-trained opera singer hired by the Metropolitan Opera company. During the early twentieth century, she performed at major opera houses in the United States, Cuba, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South America and Russia.
Cisneros toured the United States during World War I, singing in plays at no charge to raise funds for the Red Cross and marketing millions of dollars' worth of Liberty bonds.
De Cisneros was known for her wide vocal range and the high volume of her contralto voice. At 6 feet 2 inches, she also was perfectly cast for the stage heroine roles that she portrayed. She retired from the stage around 1929, moved back to New York and became a voice teacher.
Early life
Cisneros was born Eleanor Broadfoot in Manhattan, New York City on October 31, 1878 (some sources say November 1, 1878). She was the only child of John C. Broadfoot, a New York City clerk, and Ellen (Small) Broadfoot.
The public source identifies “Eleonora de Cisneros” as american opera singer (1878-1934). This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Eleonora, Cisneros and American.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Eleonora de Cisneros”, the useful work is to connect “american opera singer (1878-1934)” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Biographical claims are most persuasive when dates, appointments and relationships can be traced to records created close to the events described. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 15, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q5359254. VIAF identifies the subject as 174695231. The Library of Congress control number is no92008519. 5 of 5 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 1 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 1878, 1934 and 1929.
A concise life account rarely captures disputed attribution, private networks or the changing language used to describe a career. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Read biographical claims against dates, named institutions and the cited references. Distinguish a subject’s later reputation from evidence produced during their lifetime.
- Establishing names and roles
- Building a first chronology
- Locating cited institutions
Personal papers, civil or court records, institutional files and the scholarship cited by the source.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Eleonora de Cisneros”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Eleonora de Cisneros primary sources, Eleonora de Cisneros archive and Eleonora research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Eleonora de Cisneros”?
- Which claims depend on a single source or contested interpretation?
- How has the subject’s reputation changed across later accounts?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Eleonora de Cisneros” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.