Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Dec 30, 2014

Mafalda De Voltri (Soprano) (Bergamo 1889 - Milano 1966)



Her real name was Elvira Anna Maria Minari. She made her debut in 1919 at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan in ‘’La Wally’’ by A. Catalani. The next year at the same opera house in Milan she appeared as Gilda in G. Verdi’s ‘’Rigoletto’’. In 1921 she sang at the Teatro Politeama Verdi in Cremona in ‘’La Bohème’’. In the 1924-1925 season she appeared as Violetta at the Teatro Donizetti in Bergamo and at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo. In 1924 at the Teatro San Carlo in Napoli she sang in the première of the opera ‘’I Compagnacci’’ by P. Riccitelli, the next year in ՛՛Cavaliere Della Rosa՛՛, in 1926 in the première of R. Zandonai’s ‘’I Cavalieri di Ekebù’’. She made guest appearances in Cairo, Paris, Cannes and Zürich. Later she lived at the Casa di riposo Verdi in Milan.

Chronology of some appearances

1919 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Fedora (Olga)
1920 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Rigoletto (Gilda)
1921 Cremona Politeama Verdi Boheme (Mimì)
1922 Carrara Politeama Verdi Rigoletto (Gilda)
1923 Alessandria d'Egitto Teatro Zizinia Traviata (Violetta)
1924 Brescia Teatro Grande Rigoletto (Gilda)
1925 Palermo  Teatro Massimo Traviata (Violetta)
1926 Malta Teatro Reale Pescatori di Perle (Leila)
1927 Malta Teatro Reale Pagliacci (Nedda)
1928 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Traviata (Violetta)
1929 Bari Teatro Petruzzelli Giuliano (Reginella)
1930 Salsomaggiore Teatro Poggio Diana Il Piccolo Marat (Mariella)
1932 Cannes Opera Stagione

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Columbia, Milano 1924/1928
Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Un bel dì D5246
Manon Lescaut (Puccini): In quelle trine morbide D5246
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Voi lo sapete D5138 B384 
Ave Maria (Gounod) D5981 WB1379
Piccolo Marat (Mascagni): Sei tu? Che cosa vieni a fare with Hipolito Lazaro  D 18006 WBX-42
Piccolo Marat (Mascagni): P2 with Hipolito Lazaro  D 18006 WBX-43
Piccolo Marat (Mascagni): P3 with Hipolito Lazaro  D 18003 WBX-38
Piccolo Marat (Mascagni): P4 with Hipolito Lazaro  D 18003 WBX-39
Cena delle beffe (Giordano): Mi svestii P1, P2 with Hipolito Lazaro  WBX-55, WBX-56


Dec 28, 2014

Ljuba Mirella (Soprano) (Rostov 1896 - Milano 1962)



Her real name was Ljuba Wagenhein. She was the daughter of a Polish musician and emigrated after the First World War to Italy. Here she had success at the leading opera houses as well as at the guest performances. Her the most significant role was counted Musetta  in G. Puccini's ''La Bohème''. She spent her old age at the Milan Casa di riposo Verdi.

Chronology of some appearances

1925 Milano Teatro Carcano Boheme (Musetta)
1926 Genova Politeama Genovese Boheme (Musetta)
1927 Bolzano Teatro Civico Boheme (Musetta)
1928 Fiorenzuola d'Arda Teatro Verdi Boheme (Musetta)
1929 Pegognaga Teatro Del Littorio Boheme (Musetta)
1930 Luino Teatro Sociale Boheme (Musetta)
1931 Padova Teatro Garibaldi Boheme (Musetta)
1933 Milano Teatro Carcano Boheme (Musetta)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE









Columbia, Milano 1931
Complete Fedora (Giordano) with Gilda Dalla Rizza, Antonio Melandri, Emilio Ghilardini and Corrado Zambelli

Odeon, Milano 1931-10-27
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Sei là? with Bertinelli 168779 Mo3380
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Hai tempo aridimelo with Bertinelli 168779 Mo3381
Pastorale (Cuscina) Mo 3872
Ninna nanna (Zanella) Mo 3873


Rizzardo Da Ferrara (Baritone) (Ferrara 1872 - ?1918)



His real name was Rizzardo Trebbi. He studied singing under the famous tenor Leopoldo Signoretti, then with Steffanini Donzelli and Giuseppe Nenci. He made his debut at the Teatro Sociale of Ivrea in 1907 in U. Giordano's ‘’Andrea Chenier’’. In 1910 at the Teatro Storchi in Modena he appeared in the world premiere of the  A. Seppilli’s opera ‘’La Nave Rossa’’. Then he was chosen by P. Mascagni to sing in different opera houses of South America in his opera ‘’Isabeau’’. He died during the First World War. In 1912 Da Ferrara made nine records for Odeon. 

Chronology of some appearances

1908 Ivrea Teatro Civico Andrea Chenier (Gerard)
1909 Sanremo Teatro Principe Amedeo Pagliacci (Tonio)
1910 Imola Teatro Comunale Tosca (Scarpia)
1912 Londra Teatro Hyppodrom Cavalleria Rusticana (Alfio)
1913 Fano Teatro Della Fortuna Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)
1914 Chieti Teatro Marruccino Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Odeon Fonotipia, Milano 1912?
Andrea Chénier (Giordano): Compiacente... 110205
Andrea Chénier (Giordano): Un dì m'era di gioia 110206
Fanciulla del West (Puccini): Minnie dalla mia casa with Plavano 110209 xM1749 
Fanciulla del West (Puccini): Ti voglio bene with Plavano 110211 xM1751
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Enzo Grimaldo with Venturini 110345  xM1762 
Gioconda (Ponchielli): O grido di quest'anima with Venturini 110346 xM1763


Dec 24, 2014

Robert vom Scheidt (Bartione) (Bremen 1879 - ? 1964)


                                                                 Escamilio

                                                             Escamilio

Brother of the opera singer Julius vom Scheidt (1877-1948) and Selma vom Scheidt (1874-1959) he studied singing at the Conservatory of Cologne. He made his debut in 1897 at the Opera House in Cologne. Here he appeared till 1903. In 1902 he took part in the premiere of the opera "Die Pompadour" by Emanuel Moor. In the 1903-1912 seasons he sang at the Municipal Theatre in Hamburg and then from 1912 to 1940 at the Opera House in Frankfurt a. M.. In 1904 he appeared in Hamburg in the premiere of the opera "Der Kobold" by Siegfried Wagner, in 1907 E. d'Albert’s opera "Tragaldabas". In Frankfurt he sang on 21. 10. 1919 in the premiere of the opera "Fennimore und Gerda"  by Fr. Delius, on 25. 4. 1918 in the premiere of F. Schrekers’s "Die Gezeichneten", on 15. 3. 1913 in "Das Spielwerk und die Prinzessin" by  F. Schreker, on 21. 1. 1920 in "Schatzgräbers" again by F. Schreker. On 14. 11. 1926 he performed in the premiere of E. d'Albert’s "Der Golem"; on 22. 5. 1935 in the Frankfurt premiere of "Zaubergeige" by W. Egk. In 1924 he took part there in the German première of M. Mussorgsky’s opera ‘’Khovanshchina’’. In 1904 at the Bayreuth festival he appeared in R. Wagner’s two operas - ‘’Tannhäuser’’ and ‘’Parsifal’’. He made guest appearances at the Court Opera in Dresden (1905), at the Opera House in Leipzig (1910) and at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels (1911, 1912, 1914), in 1916 also at the Court Theatre in Stuttgart. In spite of shining offers from Berlin, Vienna, Munich and New York, he remained at the Frankfurt Opera, enjoying remarkable popularity. He celebrated an enormous success in R. Wagner's operas (Telramund, Wotan, Hans Sachs, Dutchman, Kurwenal), but also as Falstaff in G. Verdi's opera of the same name, as Borromeo in Pfitzner’s ‘’Palestrina’’ and Boris Godunov, which he sang in 1921 in the Frankfurt première. He was appointed the honorary member of the Frankfurt Opera.

Chronology of some appearances

1897-1903 Cologne Opera House
1903-1912 Hamburg Municipal Theatre
1912-1940 Frankfurt a. M. Opera House

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Polyphon, Hamburg 1910-07?
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Prolog 2258 (3564)
Carmen (Bizet): Torerolied 2258 (3566)

Polyphon, Hamburg 1910-10?
Tannhäuser (Wagner): Als du in kühnem Sange uns bestrittest 2300 (3594)


Dec 23, 2014

Louise Plavano (Soprano) (New York 1886 - ?)


She made her debut in 1909 at Manzoni of Pistoia as Desdemona in G. Verdi's ''Otello''.

Chronology of some appearances

1909 Pistoia Teatro Manzoni Otello (Desdemona)
1910 Biella Teatro Sociale Otello (Desdemona)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Odeon, Milano 1912?
Aida (Verdi): Di Napata le gole with Emilio Bione and Carlo Albani 110321
Fanciulla del West (Puccini): Minnie dalla mia casa  with Rizzardo da Ferrara 110209 xM1749
Fanciulla del West (Puccini): Ti voglio bene with Rizzardo da Ferrara 110211 xM1751


Dec 22, 2014

Lucienne Garchery (Soprano) (Yzeure, Allier / department, France 1885 - ?)


                                                                  Tosca

Débute le 28 novembre 1909 dans la Légende du Point d'Argentan (Rose-Marie). Chante ensuite Cavalleria rusticana (Santuzza), la Reine Fiammette (Violette). 

Chronology of appearance

1909 Légende du Point d'Argentan (Rose-Marie)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Odeon, Paris 1908-06/07
Ariane (Massenet): Vivante? Elle est vivante X60830 XP4136
Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod) X60806 XP4138
Sigurd (Reyer): Vêtu de fer with Rigaux X60824
Sigurd (Reyer): Je suis à toi, Gunther with Rigaux X60804

Adamo Galperni (Baritone)


His real name was Adamo Halpern. Probably he made his debut in 1903  at the Teatro Verdi in Castelsangiovanni as Conte in G. Verdi's ''Trovatore''.

Chronology of some appearances

1903 Castelsangiovanni Teatro Verdi Trovatore (Conte)
1905 Pistoia Teatro Manzoni   Pagliacci (Tonio)
1906 Cairo Teatro Kedivhiale Manon (Bretigny)
1907 Boston Civic Opera House Boheme (Schaunard)
1908 Soncino Teatro Sociale  Don Pasquale (Malatesta)

RECORDING FOR SALE








Zonophone, Milano 1904-12
Carmen (Bizet): Toreador X-92038



















Dec 21, 2014

Browning Mummery (Tenor) ( Carlton, Melbourne 1888 – Canberra 1974)




First he was active as a mechanic, but then took singing lessons. He made his debut as a member of the Italian traveling opera company in his Australian native country as Faust. Additionally, he studied in London and appeared there first with the British National Opera Company, then in  the 1925-1928 seasons at the Covent Garden, where he had a special success as an Italian singer in "Rosenkavalier". After he had accompanied prima donna Nellie Melba in 1924 on her Australia tour, she selected him to sing the role of Rodolfo at the Covent Garden as her partner in 1926. He appeared in London also in the operetta ''Madame Pompadour'' of Leo Fall and in musical Comedies and was to be heard in the promenade Concerts. He travelled around in 1928 with the Melba-Williamson Company Australia. Then he undertook an USA tour and appeared there in the 1929-1931 seasons at the NBC Radio in New York. Two years of a similar activity followed in the 1931-1933 seasons with the English broadcasting company BBC in London and the participation in a music film ''Evensong'' with Evelyn Laye. In 1934 he went back to Australia. Here he was active as a concert singer and appeared still with the Fuller Grand Opera Company. Later he worked as a pedagogue in Melbourne, then in Canberra.

Chronology of some appearances

1925-1928 London Covent Garden

RECORDINGS FOR SALE









HMV, London 1927-08-29
Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere with Austral & chorus D1302 2-054181
Trovatore (Verdi): Ai nostri monti with Austral D1302 2-054182

HMV, London 1929-07-18
Tosca (Puccini): When the stars were brightly shining B3160 7-2527
Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Never did I behold B3160 7-2528
















Dec 8, 2014

Fritz Krauss (Tenor) (Lehenhammer 1883 - Überlingen 1976)




He studied singing in Munich, Milan and Berlin and in 1911 made his debut at the Municipal Theatre in Bremen. Then he was engaged by the Municipal Theatre in Gdansk (1912-14), sang at the Court Theatre in Kassel (1914-15) and at the Opera House in Cologne (1915-21). Since 1921 for more than twenty years he appeared with success at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. From 1925-28 he sang as guest at the Städtische Oper Berlin. In 1922 he performed at the Salzburg festival, where sang the role of  Ferrando in ‘’Così fan tutte’’, in 1927 Florestan in ‘’Fidelio’’ and Belmonte in "Entführung aus dem Serail". As guest he appeared in 1927 at the Wagner festival in Paris, between 1927-28 at the Dresden State Opera. In 1934 he appeared in Basel. From 1921 to 1932 and again in 1939 he sang as a guest at the Vienna State Opera. Krauss also made guest appearances at the Berlin State Opera, at the Teatro Liceo in Barcelona and  at the Opera House in Frankfurt a. Several times he was to be heard at the Covent Garden in London, among other things in 1926 as Don Ottavio in ‘’Don Giovanni’’ under Bruno Walter. At the Munich State Opera he sang in 1927 in the premiere of the opera "Das Himmelskleid" by Wolf-Ferrari, in 1931 in "Das Herz" of Hans Pfitzner (the second premiere took place the same day in Berlin). His repertoire included Tamino, Idomeneo of Mozart, Hüon in ‘’Oberon’’ of Weber, Lyonel in ‘’'Martha’’, Aubry in "Der Vampyr" by Marschner, Lohengrin, Walther von Stolzing, Galba in  "Die toten Augane"  by d'Albert, Riccardo in Verdi’s ‘’Ballo in maschera’’, Alvaro in ‘’La forza del destino’’, Rodolfo in ‘’La Bohème’’’, Kalaf in ‘’Turandot’’, Chapelou in "Postillon von Lonjumeau" by Adam, Raoul in ‘’Huguenots’’, Hans in "Verkauften Braut", Hoffmann in "Hoffmanns Erzählungen"  and Sylvain in "Glöckchen des Eremiten" by Maillart. In 1940 he retired from the stage and worked as a song pedagogue in Munich. There he sang in his 60. Birthday again the role of Lohengrin. Later he lived in Überlingen.

Chronology of some appearances

1911-1912 Bremen Municipal Theatre
1912-1914 Gdansk Municipal Theatre
1914-1915 Kassel Court Theatre
1915-1921 Cologne Opera House
1921-1941 Munich Bavarian State Opera
1925-1928 Berlin Städtische Oper

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Vox, Berlin 1921-12?
Africaine (Meyerbeer): Land so wunderbar *03013

Vox, Berlin 1922-01/02?
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Ihr Wangenpaar *03068
Alessandro Stradella (Flotow): Hymne *03068
Bohème (Puccini): Che gelida manina (It) *03067
Forza del destino (Verdi): In dieser feierlichen Stunde with Renner *04014
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Enzo Grimaldo with Renner *04015
Bohème (Puccini): Ach, Geliebte with Renner *04015


Nov 30, 2014

Georgette Leblanc-Maeterlinck (Soprano) (Rouen 1869 – Le Cannet, near Cannes 1941)





She was the mistress of the Belgian poet Maurice Maeterlinck, who wrote the play Pelléas et Mélisande. Maeterlinck tried to procure the world premiere role of Debussy's operatic Mélisande for LeBlanc, but Mary Garden won the role, which she performed to great success. According to Garden's autobiography, Debussy had LeBlanc sing an act of Pelléas before a jury of musicians. The overwhelming results of that audition strengthened Debussy's support for Garden. LeBlanc had a light voice of no special quality. Fortunately, in 1903 LeBlanc recorded an excerpt of Massenet's Sapho, which is preserved in the Historical Sound Recordings collection at Yale University. Its historic value is not so much for LeBlanc's contribution, but for the fact that it is a very rare recording of Massenet himself accompanying the singer. Critic Edmond Stoullig caught her 1898 performance as Sapho at the Opéra-Comique, calling it, "quite different from that of her predecessor [Calvé, which] earned for her a personal success as actress, singer, and woman.

Chronology of some appearances

1893 Paris Opéra-Comique
1894-1896 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie
1907 Paris Opéra-Comique
1912-1913 Boston Opera House

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Columbia, 1912
Carmen (Bizet): Aria delle carte 19754 A1153
Amadis (Lully): Bois Epais  19763 A1243
Thais (Massenet): L'amour est une vertu rare 19755 A 1153


Nov 29, 2014

Antoinette Laute-Brun (Soprano) (Nimes 1876 - ?)



She received her education at the Paris Conservatoire by Duvernoy, Melchissèdec and Mangin. In 1904 she made her debut at the Grand Opéra in Paris as Helmwige in "Walküre", then sang there the role of Ines in G. Donizetti's ''La Favorite''. During the first years of her work she took over in this opera house, whose member she remained till 1927, roles like Jemmy in G. Rossini's ''Wilhelm Tell'', Urbain in ''Huguenots'' by G. Meyerbeer, Crobyle in ''Thaïs'' and Eunoë in ''Ariane'' of J. Massenet. She sang there in several premieres, thus on 31. 10. 1906 in ''Ariane'' of J. Massenet, on 24. 5. 1907 in ''La Catalane'' of Le Borne, on 2. 5. 1909 in ''Bacchus'' of  J. Massenet, in 1910 in ''La Fille de Soleil'' of André Gailhard, in 1914 in ''Scémo'' of Alfred Bachelet and on 14. 3. 1921 in ''Antar'' of Gabriel Dupont. She sang there also in 1908 in the première of Rameau's ''Hyppolite et Aricie'', also in the premières of the R. Wagner's operas "Götterdämmerung" (1908) and "Rheingold" (1909). In 1907 she married the composer Georges Brun and appeared since that time under the name Antoinette Laute-Brun. In 1907 she undertook together with the baritone Jean Noté a tour through Belgium. She had a successful career in the French province, where she often guested. She had their big success as an oratorio soloist in ''La Damnation de Faust'' by H. Berlioz and in ''The Creation'' by J. Haydn.

Chronology of some appearances

1904-1927 Paris Grand Opéra

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Zonophone, Paris 1904
Faust (Gounod): Air des bijoux X-83102
Faust (Gounod): Ballade du roi de Thule X-83105

G&T, Paris 1904/1905
Faust (Gounod): Entrée de Faust et Marguérite with Beyle & chorus 34663 4414o 

Favorite, Paris 1906-07-10/18
Faust (Gounod): Laisse-moi contempler, pt 1 with Lucien Muratore 1-9070
Faust (Gounod):  Pt 2 with Lucien Muratore 1-9071

Odeon, Paris 1909?
Sigurd (Reyer):...Avec les fleurs...Maitre que m'ont donne les dieux with Agustarello Affre  97509 XP4886
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): O ciel, ou courez-vous with Agustarello Affre   97512 XP4889
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Tu m'aimes with Agustarello Affre   97513 XP4890

Edison 4-min cylinders, Paris 1911?
Faust (Gounod): Ballade du roi de Thule BA 27115
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Nobles seigneurs BA 27119
Faust (Gounod): Scene de l'eglise with Gustave Huberdeau BA 27122

Ideal, Paris 1913?
Faust (Gounod): Air des bijoux 8435
Quand l'oiseau chante (Tagliafico) 8438


Walter Kirchhoff (Tenor) (Berlin 1879 – Wiesbaden 1951)



He studied with Lilli Lehmann and Robert Weiss. He made his debut (1906) at the Berlin Imperial Opera as Faust. He was particularly noted as a Wagnerian singer. As Walter von Stolzing (seen here) in a 1913 Meistersinger at Covent Garden, The Times said, "Mr. Kirchhoff gives what one so rarely gets in a Wagnerian tenor, a combination of vocal power and manly personality, which is essential to a satisfactory representation." Kirchhoff sang at the 1911-14 Bayreuth Festivals, during which time he also served as the chief administrative assistant to the Crown Prince of Germania.

Chronology of some appearances

Kirchhoff, Walter, t, 17. 3. 1879 Berlino, †26. 3. 1951 Wiesbaden Lohengrin 2/1/1927, Siegfried 3/1/1927, Alfonso 11/15/1927, Parsifal 4/3/1928, Menelas 11/13/1928, Tannhäuser 1/8/1929, Lohengrin 1/22/1929, 11/12/1929, Tannhäuser 1/21/1930, Erik 12/2/1930, Pietro 1/6/1931 (Filadelfia)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Beka, Berlin 1906-10?
Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Morgenlich leuchtend 7215
Lohengrin (Wagner): Mein lieber Schwan! (Abschied) 7216
Widmung (Schumann) 7218


Pierre Deldi (Baritone) (? Toulouse - ?)


For some years he was engaged by the Opera House in Toulouse, whose audience estimated him very much. During the 1930's he appeared as a guest in the famous French opera houses and sang among other things in 1934 at the Grand Opéra in Paris as Germont in ''La Traviata''. From 1947 to 1950 he worked as a director of the Opera House (Théâtre Capitole) in Toulouse, since 1953 as a professor in the conservatoire there. His repertoire included Valentin in  ''Faust'', Albert in ''Werther'', Ourrias in ''Mireille'', Boniface in ''Le Jongleur der Notre Dame'' by Massenet, Hérode in ''Hérodiade'', Lescaut in ''Manon'' of Massenet, Figaro in ''Il Barbiere di Siviglia''.

Chronology of some appearances

1930's Toulouse Théâtre Capitole
1934 Paris Grand Opéra

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Columbia
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Prologue BFX16 WLX1590
Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): Duo de Nadir et Zurga, act 1 with Jose Luccioni BFX16 CLX1798


Willy Tubiana (Baritone) (Alger 1891 - ?)



In 1910 he began his education at the Paris Conservatoire which was interrupted in 1912 by his military service. from 1914 to 1918 he was a soldier in the front. In 1919 he took up his study again and made his debut in 1920 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris; for the next thirty years he remained a popular member of this opera house, where he appeared also as bass. Here he appeared in an important opera premières. (He sang among other things in 1929 in the premiere of ''Le Peau de Chagrin''' of Charles Lavadé). Since 1926 he appeared over and over again in opera performances of the French broadcasting company, for the last time in 1950. From 1950 to 1951 he was a professor of the Conservatoire in Algiers. Later he worked as a vocal pedagogue in Paris.

Chronology of some appearances

1920-1950 Paris Opéra-Comique

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Gramophone, Paris 1924-12-11
Faust (Gounod): Seigneur, daigne permettre (Scène de l'église, pt 1) with Mireille Berthon & chorus W619 034270
Faust (Gounod): Que dirai-je alors au Seigneur (d:o, pt 2) with Mireille Berthon &chorus W619 034271


Nov 25, 2014

Felicie Kaschowska (Soprano) (Warsaw 1867 - Bielsko-Biała 1951)



                                                                  Carmen

At the age of 15 her voice was discovered by the famous tenor Enrico Tamberlik. She studied under Troschel in Warsaw, then at the Vienna Konservatorium with Joseph Gänsbacher and under Jean de Reszke in Paris. At the age of 16 she gave her first concert in Warsaw and made her debut at the Grand Theatre, Warsaw as Alice in ''Robert le Diable'' of G. Meyerbeer and as Marguerite in ''Faust'' of C. Gounod. Already in 1888 she was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York (beginning role: Urbain in ''Huguenots'' of G. Meyerbeer), where she remained in the 1888-1890 seasons and appeared also from 1890 to 1891. She appeared there primarily in R. Wagner's operas (''Fliegenden Holländer'', Eva in ''Meistersingern'', Sieglinde in ''Walküre'',  Elisabeth in ''Tannhäuser''). She made guest appearances at the opera houses of St. Louis, Boston and Buffalo and sang in the concert hall together with the leading orchestras. In 1892 she undertook a big USA tour. In 1893 she was engaged by the National Opera in Budapest, where she excited big sensation as Brünnhilde in R. Wagner's ''Walküre''. Then in the 1894-1896 seasons she appeared at the Opera House in Dusseldorf, in the 1896-1897 season at the Opera House in Leipzig and from 1897 to 1905 at the Court Theatre in Darmstadt. Later she sang at the Court Theatre in Karlsruhe, however appeared in the 1908-1909 season again at the Metropolitan Opera. She made guest appearances at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome (1910), at the Grand Theatre in Warsaw (1910-1911), at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, alos in Amsterdam, Madrid, Stockholm and Paris. In 1917 she retired from the stage and worked in Warsaw as a pedagogue. She also been active in Vienna in the educational field and one of her pupils was Hungarian soprano Maria Nemeth. 

Chronology of some appearances

1884 Warsaw Grand Theatre
1888-1891 New York Metropolitan Opera
1893 Budapest National Opera
1894-1896 Dusseldorf Opera House
1896-1897 Leipzig Opera House
1897-1905 Darmstadt Court Theatre
1908-1909 New York Metropolitan Opera
1910 Rome Teatro Costanzi
1910-1911 Warsaw Grand Theatre

RECORDINGS FOR SALE









Pathé, Berlin 1909?
Zauberflöte (Mozart): Das klinget so herrlich with Lordmann 14551
Zauberflöte (Mozart): Bei Männern with Lordmann 14553

Anker
Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d'arte E. 9564-I
L'Elegie (Massenet) E. 9564-II

Marguerite Carré (Soprano) ( Cabourg 1880 – Paris 1947)




Her real name was Marguerite Giraud. Her father was a manager of the Théâtre Graslin in Nantes. Here she made her debut in 1899 as Mimi in G. Puccini’s ‘’La Bohème’’. She studied singing at the Conservatoire de Bordeaux, then at the Conservatoire de Paris. Her real debut was happened in 1902 at the Paris Opéra-Comique, again as Mimi in ‘’La Bohème’’. She married in 1902 the manager of the Opéra-Comique, Albert Carré (1852-1938). She appeared at the Opéra-Comique in a number of opera premieres, among other things in ‘’La pure Fiammette’’ of Xavier Leroux (23. 12. 1903), ‘’La fille de Roland’’ of Henri Rabaud (16. 3. 1904), ‘’Fortunio’’ of André Messager (5. 6. 1907), ‘’Le Mariage de Télémaque’’ by Cl. Terrasse (4. 5. 1910), ‘’Chiquito’’ of Jean Nouguès (30. 10. 1909) and ‘’La Danseuse de Pompéi’’ written by the same composer (29. 10. 1912). In 1906 she sang at the Opéra-Comique the title role in the French première of ‘’Madame Butterfly’’. In 1908 she performed in an unforgettable French première of N. Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘’The Snow Maiden’’, in 1909 in an important performance of Mozart’s ‘’Zauberflöte’’ as Pamina. On  7. 2. 1912 she sang at the Opéra-Comique in the premiere of Sylvio Lazzari’s ‘’La Lépreuse ‘’, on 20. 3. 1913 in ‘’Le Carillonneur’’ by Xavier Leroux, on 4. 6. 1913 in Charpentier’s ‘’Julien’’, in 1914 the role of Salud in the première of de of Falla’s ‘’La vida breve’’. In 1909 she appeared at the Opera House of Monte Carlo (where she made guest appearances in  the 1905-1907 seasons) in the premiere of the opera ‘’Le Cobzar’’ by Gabrielle Ferrari, in 1906 and 1910 took place guest appearances at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. In 1911 she created for Buenos Aires the role of Mélisande. After the First World War she appeared in Paris in operetta performances (‘’ La belle Hélène’’, ‘’La fille de Madame Angot’’,  ‘’La petite femme de Loth’’). Later she worked as a singing teacher in Paris. Soprano Janine Micheau among other things belonged to her pupils.

Chronology of some appearances

1899 Nantes Théâtre Graslin
1902 Paris Opéra-Comique
1909 Monte Carlo Opera House

RECORDINGS FOR SALE










G&T, Paris 1904-06
Reine Fiammette (Leroux): Ariette (piano: Leroux) 33476 3438F
Roi d'Ys (Lalo): Pourquoi lutter (Chanson de l'epousee) 33477 3439F

Pathe cylinders & discs, Paris 1904?
Manon (Massenet): Duo de la rencontre with Leon Beyle 2534
Manon (Massenet): Duo with Leon Beyle  674 

Nov 24, 2014

Armand Narçon (Bass) (Paris 1866 - Paris 1944)



He was trained at the Paris Conservatoire. In 1891 he began his career as a Chorist at the Grand Opéra. He made his debut there in 1893 as comprimario in the premiere of the opera ‘’Deidamie’’ by Henri Marechal. Till 1940 he worked at the Grand. He also counted as a superior interpreter of solo parts in oratorios. during many years he appeared with the church concerts in Saint-Philippe-du-Roule in Paris. Since 1934 he was a professor of the Paris Conservatoire.

Chronology of appearances (Opera premieres)

1914 Paris Grand Opéra Scémo
1920 Paris Grand Opéra La Légende de Saint-Christophe
1922 Paris Grand Opéra Renard
1923 Paris Grand Opéra Pâdmâvâti
1923 Paris Grand Opéra Le Jardin de Paris
1928 Paris Grand Opéra Sept chansons
1929 Paris Grand Opéra Les Troyens
1935 Paris Grand Opéra Le Marchand de Venise
1934 Paris Grand Opéra Roland et le mauvais garçon
1936 Paris Grand Opéra Oedipe

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Odeon, Paris 1908?
Ernani (Verdi): Ah! Que dit-elle   with Talexis, Landouzy, Bornica, Gilly, Cèbe and Delzara 56198 XP4449
Aida (Verdi): Gloire a L'Egypte with Talexis, Affre, Landouzy, Lequien and Rigaux 56196 xP 4438
Aida (Verdi): O guerriers sur ce rivage with Talexis, Lequien, Rigaux,  Affre and Landouzy 56193 xP 4439
Africaine (Meyerbeer): Oui fallut-il perdre la vie with Affre, Rigaux, Freville and Bernard 97061 XP4355
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): En mon bon droit j'ai confiance with Freville, Claudin, Affre, Lequien, Rigaux and Bernard 97142 Xp4452
Rigoletto (Verdi): Paix! voici le bouffon with Gilly and Landouzy 56199 xP 4448
Faust (Gounod): Ainsi que la brise légère with Paule Marelly and Auguste Gonguet 97644  xP 5065

Gramophone, Paris 1910-06-14
Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens): Je viens célébrer ta victoire with Suzanne Brohly and Georges Granal  034086 01548v

Columbia, Paris 1929?
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Récit et choral de Luther RFX7 WL1937 
La Reine de Saba (Gounod): Cavatine RFX7 WL1191 

Columbia
Caid (Thomas): L’amour ce dieu profane with  Georges Granal  RF 13 C. 
Chalet (Adam): Dans le service de l’Autriche with  Georges Granal  RF 13 C. 
Le cor (Flegier) WLX.1402