Carmen Melis (Soprano) (Cagliari 1885- Longone al Segrino 1967)

                                                                 Tosca

                                                               Tosca

She made her debut as Thais at Novara in 1905 and had a great success at Naples the following year in Pietro Mascagni's ''Iris''. She also sang in Rome and toured Russia and Poland in 1907.  From 1909 to 1913 Carmen Melis was with Oscar Hammerstein's company at the Manhattan Opera House, New York, where she was admired for her latin temperament as well as for her voice. In Boston her roles included Desdemona and Helen of Troy, with the Giacomo Puccini heroines at the centre of her repertory. She sang at Covent Garden in 1913, appearing in ‘’Pagliacci’’ and ‘’La bohème’’ with Caruso. On her return in 1929 the voice had faded, and she contributed an overplayed Musetta and an undersung ‘’Tosca’’. She remained a favourite for many years at La Scala, where in 1924 she sang Ginevra in the première of Umberto Giordano's ‘’’La cena delle beffe’’, and in Buenos Aires, where she undertook more unexpected roles such as the Marschallin and Sieglinde. She later taught, numbering Renata Tebaldi mong her pupils. She was known, above all, as a verismo soprano, and was one of the most interesting singing actresses of the early 20th century.  

Chronology of some appearances

1907 Roma Teatro Costanzi Boheme (Mimi)

1909 Philadelphia  Teatro dell'Opera Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)

1910 New York  Teatro Manhattan Opera House Boheme (Mimi)

1910 Philadelphia  Philadelphia Opera House Boheme (Mimi)

1912 Boston  Opera House Boheme (Mimi)

1914 Bilbao Teatro Arriaga Boheme (Mimi)

1917 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)

1919 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)

1926 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)

1915 Genova  Politeama Genovese Boheme (Mimi)

1917 Modena  Teatro Storchi Boheme (Mimi)

1917 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Boheme (Mimi)

1918 Alessandria  Teatro Municipale Boheme (Mimi)

1918 Tortona  Teatro Civico Boheme (Mimi)

1919 Roma  Teatro Costanzi  Boheme (Mimi)

1919 Costantinopoli  Teatro Noveau Boheme (Mimi)

1920 Havana Teatro Nacional Carmen (Micaela)

1932 Padova Teatro Verdi Adriana Lecouvreur ( Adriana)

1932 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Adriana Lecouvreur ( Adriana)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Milano 1907
Hermes (Parelli): Si, io t'amo with Giuseppe Taccani (orch: Parelli) 054138 1253c 
Albatro (Pacchierotti): La fata sei with Giuseppe Taccani (orch: Pacchierotti) 054137 1255c 
Albatro (Pacchierotti): L'albatro teco with Giuseppe Taccani (orch: Pacchierotti) 054136 1247c 

Zonophone, New York 1907?

Tosca (Puccini): Mia Tosca idolatrata with Bindo Gasparini 12636

Edison 4-min cylinders, London? 1910?

Tosca (Puccini):  Vissi d'arte B188

Torna a Surriento (De Curtis) 40020

Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Mamma morta 40027

Amico Fritz (Mascagni):  Son pochi fiori 40039

Edison, USA? 1913?

Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea): Ecco respiro apenna...Io son l'umile ancella Unpubl. 2195-A

Io son l'amore (Tosti) Unpubl. 1432-A
Aida (Verdi) Ritorna vincitor  Unpubl.  575-C

Fonotipia, Milano 1917-02-02

Madama Butterfly (Puccini):  Un bel di, vedremo levarsi un fil di fumo 69271 XPh 5166

Fonotipia, Milano 1917-02-06
Louise (Charpentier): Romanza di Luisa (Depuis le jour) 69209 XPh5104

Fonotipia, Milano 1917-02-07

Manon Lescaut (Puccini):  In quelle trine morbide 69272 XPh  5167

Andrea Chenier (Giordano): La Mamma morta 69273 Xph 5168

Fedora (Giordano): O grandi occhi 69274 Xph 5169

Fonotipia, Milano 1917-04-03
Tosca (Puccini): Non la sospiri la nostra casetta with Manfredi Polverosi 69207 XPh5102
Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d'arte 69208 XPh5103

Columbia, Milano 1923/1924

Manon (Massenet):  Ah, mi rendi il tuo cor....La tua mano non e D 5060 B 109