Marguerite Merentié (Soprano) (1880? - ?)

Till 1904 she studied singing at the Paris Conservatoire. Since 1905 she appeared for about eight years (at least till 1913) at Grand Opéra of Paris in which she made her debut as Chimène in ‘’Le Cid’’ of Massenet. In 1909 she sang as a beginning role at the Paris Opéra-Comique Carmen. In this opera house she appeared for the last time in 1919 as Mme Long in ‘’La Fille de Mme Angot’’ of Lecocq. In 1918 she took over at the Opéra-Comique in the 100-th performance of the opera ‘’Sapho’’ of Massenet singing the part of the Fanny Legrand. She was often to be found at the Opera House of Monte Carlo where she also appeared on 24. 2. 1906 in the premiere of the opera ‘’L'Ancêtre’’ of Saint-Saëns. On 26. 4. 1906 she sang at the Théâtre Nouveau of Paris in the premiere of the opera ‘’Le clown’’  of Camondo, on 15. 12. 1911 at the Opéra-Comique in ‘’Bérénice’’ of Albéric Magnards. In 1908 she appeared as a guest at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. In 1909 she guested only once at La Scala performing in the Italian première of the opera ‘’Theodora’’ of Xavier Leroux. Probably she retired from the stage in 1919.

Chronology of some appearances

1905-1913  Paris Grand Opéra  

1906 Monte Carlo Opera House

1906 Paris Théâtre Nouveau

1908 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie

1909 Paris Opéra-Comique

1909 Milan La Scala

1918 Paris Opéra-Comique

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Paris 1907

Ariane (Massenet): La fine grâce 33646 5100h

Werther (Massenet): Va, laisse couler mes larmes 33654 5102h

Pathé, Paris 1911/1912

Werther (Massenet): Air des larmes 0206

Tosca (Puccini): Prière 0038

Cid (Massenet): Pleurez, mes yeux 70

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens): Mon coeur s'ouvre 0141

Mignon (Thomas): Connais-tu le pays? 0143

Fascination (Marchetti) 0464

Marie-Magdeleine (Massenet): Mon bien-aime 0466

Les enfants (Massenet) 0471

Werther (massenet): Air des lettres 0477

Si tu le voulais (Tosti) 0480

Faust (Gounod): Le roi de Thule 0484

Pathé, Paris 1912?

Carmen (Bizet): L'amour est enfant de Boheme with chorus 1653

Carmen (Bizet): Ou me conduisez-vous?... Pres des remparts de Seville with Affre 1657

Carmen (Bizet): Les tringles des sistres tintaient with Ganteri and Billa-Azema 1659

Carmen (Bizet): En vain, pour eviter les reponses with. Ganteri and Billa-Azema 1669

Stefan Belina-Skupiewski (Tenor) (Kiev, Ukraine 1885 – Gdansk, Poland 1962)

                                                              Radames

                                                               Faust

He studied singing under Jacques Stückgold in Berlin and with Felix Mottl in Munich. He began his career as baritone at the Municipal Theatre of St. Gallen appearing as Tonio in ‘’Pagliacci’’ (1908). In 1910 he changed to tenor and was engaged in the 1911-12 season by the Munich Court Opera, from 1912-15 he appeared at the German Theatre in Prague. In 1914 he went on tour in Odessa, Kiev, Charkov and St. Petersburg. On 2. 6. 1922 he sang at Grand Opéra in Paris in the premiere of Stravinsky’s opera ‘’Mavra’’in the part of hussar. In 1923 Arturo Toscanini obliged him for the Teatro alla Scala; here he sang under the name Stefano Bielena the role of Tristan in ‘’Tristan und Isolde’’ and Don José in ‘’Carmen’’. In 1924 he travelled around South America and gave guest performances in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Montevideo. In 1925 and 1928 he appeared at the Teatro Real in Madrid, in 1927 at the opera houses of Belgrade and Zagreb, in 1926 he sang at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, in 1928 at the Teatro Liceo of Barcelona. In 1923 and 1924 he appeared at the Grand Theatre of Warsaw. In 1925 he performed at the Opera House of Lwów (Lvov). In 1927 he created for Paris the title role in ‘’Oedipus Rex’’ of Stravinsky. Among his best roles were Tamino in ‘’Magic flute’’, Faust in Gounod’s ‘’Faust’’, Hofmann in ‘’Les contes d'Hoffmann’’, Eleazar in ‘’La Juive’’ of Halévy, Julien in ‘’Louise’’ of Charpentier, Alfredo in ‘’La Traviata’’, Radames in ‘’Aida’’, Turiddu in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’, Canio in ‘’Pagliacci’’, Rodolfo in ‘’La Bohème’’, Cavaradossi in ‘’Tosca’’. After the Second World War in 1946 he became director of the Silesian Opera in Bytom which he led till 1953. Since 1953 he was manager of the Baltic Opera in Gdansk and professor of the Gdansk Music Academy. He was married the singer Helene Ivoni.

Chronology of some appearances

1908 St. Gallen Municipal Theatre

1911-1912 Munich Court Opera

1912-1915 Prague German Theatre

1922 Paris Grand Opéra

1923 Milan Teatro alla Scala
1925 Madrid Teatro Real

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Berlin 1913-09/12

Così fan tutte (Mozart): Der Odem der Liebe erfrischet die Seele AA57202 xxBo6248

Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Wenn der Freude Tränen fliessen AA57204 xxBo6252

Odeon, Berlin 1914-01?

Mignon (Thomas): Wie ihre Unschuld auch sich das Gefühl verhehlte AA57051 xxB5953

Zauberflöte (Mozart): Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön AA57053 xxB5954

Aida (Verdi): Holde Aida AA57055 xxB5965

Desider Matray (Tenor) (1872? - ?)

                                                             Tannhauser

He studied singing under Adolf Robinson in Vienna. He was engaged in the 1899-1901 seasons by the Opera House of  Leipzig. From 1901-03 he appeared at the Opera House of Dusseldorf, but  in 1903 performed as the first heroic tenor at the opera house of Wroclaw, to which he belonged till 1905. In the 1906-07 season and from 1909-10 he sang at the Court Theatre of Karlsruhe. In 1900 he appeared at the Berlin Hofper and at the German Theatre of Brunn (Brno), in 1901 he made guest appearance at the Opera House of Frankfurt a. M.. The Berlin chief conductor Michael Balling recommended him to appear at Bayreuth, and in 1904 he sang  at the Bayreuth Festival in ‘’Tannhäuser’’. Although he was of Hungarian descent, but he appeared only once, in 1905, as a guest at the Court Opera of Budapest. He seems to have returned later in his native Hungarian country, where Odeon records with Hungarian songs were taken up. Nevertheless, more precise details about his career were not to be determined. He is also to be found under the name Desider Matray-Novák.

Chronology of some appearances

1899-1901 Leipzig Opera House

1900 Brno German Theatre

1901 Frankfurt a. M Opera House

1901-1903 Dusseldorf Opera House

1903-1905 Wroclaw Opera House

1904 Bayreuth Festival

1906-1907 Karlsruhe Court Theatre

1909-1910 Karlsruhe Court Theatre

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T Bayreuth, 1904

Tannhäuser (Wagner): Dir töne Lob  2-42924 1132e

Odeon, Hungary 1906?

Kossuth Lajos azt uzente (Czigany zene kiserettel) 35403 HX 1327-G

Juhászlegény, szegény juhászlegény (Czigany zene kiserettel) 35405 HX 1331-D

Georges Thill (Tenor) (Paris, France 1897 – Draguignan, France 1984)

                                                               Lohengrin

The distinguished French tenor Georges Thill studied at the Paris Conservatoire and with Fernando De Lucia in Naples.  Returning to Paris, he sang at the Opéra-Comique. He made his first appearance at the Opéra as Nicias in Thaïs in February 1924, and continued to sing there regularly until 1940. He appeared at London’s Covent Garden in 1928 and 1937. He made his Metropolitan debut in New York as Romeo in March 1931, remaining on the company’s roster until 1932. His farewell appearance was as Canio at the Opéra-Comique in 1953. His outstanding roles included Don José, Romeo, Julien in Louise, Aeneas, and Samson. He was also a fine singer of Italian and German roles.

Chronology of  appearances

Thaïs- Paris, Opéra, 24 February 1924 - Faust- Bécon-les-Bruyères, Municipal, August 1924 - Rigoletto- Paris, Opéra, 25 September 1924 - Le triomphe de l'amour (Composer Lulli) - Paris, Opéra, 6 January 1925 - Fleur de pêcher (Composer Simon) - Paris, Opéra, 24 February 1925 - Hérodiade- Paris, Opéra, 3 July 1925 - Aida- Paris, Opéra, 20 July 1925 - Werther, Nîmes, Municipal, 15 October 1925 - Le Jardin du paradis (Composer Bruneau) - Paris, Opéra, 13 november 1925 - Brocéliande (Composer Bloch) - Paris, Opéra, 23 November 1925 - Paillasse- Paris, Opéra, 8 January 1926 - Alceste- Paris, Opéra, 8 February 1926 - Roméo et Juliette- Paris, Opéra, 3 May 1926 - Manon (St. Sulpice) - Paris, Opéra, 1 june 1926 - Lohengrin- Paris, Opéra, 28 August 1926 - La Damnation de Faust- Amiens, Municipal, 14 December 1926 - La Traviata- Paris, Opéra, 24 December 1926 - Naïla (Composer Gaubert) - Paris, Opéra,6 April 1927 - Le Miracle (Composer Hue) - Paris, Opéra, 15 November 1927 - La Tour de feu (Composer Lazzari) - Paris, Opéra, 15 January 1928 - Turandot- Paris, Opéra, 29 March 1928 - Carmen- Paris, Opéra-Comique, 15 May 1928 - Samson et Dalila- Paris, Opéra, 26 May 1928 - Marouf- Paris, Opéra, 21 June 1928 - Parsifal- Monte-Carlo, Garnier, 2 February 1929 - Martha- Monte-Carlo, Garnier, 27 March 1929 - La Croisade des dames (Composer Schubert/Gunsbourg), 1 April 1929 - Tosca- Monte-Carlo, Garnier, 9 April 1929 - Les Troyens- Paris, Opéra, 2 May 1929 - Andrea Chenier- Buenos Aires, Colón, 31 July 1929 - Guillaume Tell- Paris, Opéra, 21 October 1929 - La Fanciualla del West- Milano, Scala, 7 February 1930 - Satan (Composer Gunsbourg)- Monte-Carlo, Garnier, 25 March 1930 - Tannhäuser, Monte-Carlo, Garnier, 5 April 1930 - Don Carlos-Buenos Aires, Colón, 25 May 1930 - Sadko- Buenos Aires, Colón, 1 july 1930 - Mefistofele- Buenos Aires, Colón, 26 September 1930 - Manon-Buenos Aires, Colón, 5 June 1931 - Fra Gherardo (Composer Pizzetti)- Buenos Aires, Colón, 17 July 1931 - Nazdah (Composer Palma)-Buenos Aires, Colón, 14 August 1931 - Esclarmonde- Paris, Opéra, 11 November 1931 - Le Prophète- Monte-Carlo, Garnier, 26 January 1932 - Lakmé- New York, MET, 19 February 1932 - La Valse de Vienne- Monte-Carlo, Garnier, 23 February 1933 - Vercingétorix (Composer Canteloube) - Paris, Opéra, 22 May 1933 - Die Meistersinger- Paris, Opéra, 8 November 1933 - La Belle Hélène- Monte-Carlo, Garnier, 17 February 1934 - Rolande et le mauvais garçon (Composer Rabaud) - Paris, Opéra, 22 May 1934 - Les Huguenots- Paris, Opéra, 20 March 1936 - Il Guarany- Rio de Janeiro, Municipal, 20 August 1936 - Ariane (Composer Massenet) - Paris, Opéra, 22 February 1937 - La Juive (Excerpts)- Paris, Chaillot, 22 October 1945.

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, Paris 1925-01/02
Carmen (Bizet): La fleur D13003 L61
Werther (Massenet): Pourquoi me réveiller D13003 L63
Damnation de Faust (Berlioz): Nature immense D13004 L146

Columbia, Paris 1927-01-07

Herodiade (Massenet): Ne pouvant reprimer les elans de la foi... Adieu donc vains objets L1964 WLX27

Traviata (Verdi): Non! Non! loin d'elle...Tout mon avis, cher ange (De' miei bollenti spiriti) L1964 WLX29

Columbia, Paris 1927-02-11

Rome et Juliette (Gounod): L'amour, l'amour... Ah! Lee-toi, soleil L1985 WLX45

Columbia, Paris 1927-05-10

Werther (Massenet): Je ne sais si je veille... O nature, pleine de grвce 12510 WLX64

Columbia, Paris 1930-03-07

Lohengrin (Wagner): Aux bords lointains LX 1299  LFX39

Columbia, Paris 1930-12-08

Bohème (Puccini): Que cette main est froide LX 1440  LFX144

Columbia, Paris 1930-12-12

Lohengrin (Wagner): Mon cygne aimé LX 1444 LFX159

Columbia, Paris 1933-10-09

Sadko (Rimsky-Korsakov): Chanson Hindoue LX 1735 LFX336

Marie Rappold (Soprano) (London 1879 - Los Angeles 1957)

                                                        with Jacques Urlus

Her real name was  Marie Winterroth. At the age of five she already appeared in London in child roles, later her parents emigrated to America. She studied singing in New York under Oscar Saenger. She made her debut in 1905 at the Metropolitan Opera in  New York as Sulamith in K. Goldmark’s "Königin von Saba". She remained till 1909 at the Metropolitan Opera. In 1909 she was engaged by the Opera House of Bucharest and guested afterwards in German opera houses. Her first husband was the American doctor Julius Rappold from whom she separated in 1906; then in 1913 she married the German tenor Rudolf Berger (1874-1915), who died two years later. She was engaged in 1910 again by the Metropolitan Opera in New York to which she belonged till 1920. At the Metropolitan Opera she appeared in ‘’Trovatore’’, ‘’Otello’’, ‘’Aida’’, ‘’Lohengrin’’, "Rheingold". She appeared there in the premières of the operas "Iphigenie auf Tauris" of Gluck (1916)  and "Der Widerspenstigen Zähmung" of H. Goetz (1916) . During the 1920’s she undertook tours as a member of the San Carlo Opera Company through North America and made guest appearance in 1923 at the Opera House of Havana. In 1925 she performed in ‘’Aida’’ at Yankee stadium in New York. In the 1927-28 season she belonged to the Chicago Opera. In 1929 she undertook a concert tour through Europe appearing in  Germany and Holland. Later she worked as pedagogue in Los Angeles.

Chronology of some appearances

Sulamith 1/2/1906, Stimme des Waldvogels 1/24/1907, Micaëla 1/29/1907, Elena 11/26/1907, Micaëla 1/12/1909, Leonora 1/28/1909, Euridice 12/27/1910, Venus 11/19/1912, Aida 12/15/1914, Leonora 11/23/1915, Elsa von Brabant 12/7/1915, Pamina 1/11/1916, Aida 6/6/1916, Elsa von Brabant 12/5/1916, Leonora 12/12/1916, Aida 11/30/1921, 11/20/1922, Leonora 12/2/1922, 11/3/1923, La gioconda 11/17/1924, Aida 2/12/1925, Leonora 2/26/1925 (Filadelfia)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Edison 2-min cylinders, New York 1906?

Ave Maria (Gounod) B21

Edison 4-min cylinders, New York 1910?

Trovatore (Verdi): Vanne, lasciami 30033

Lohengrin (Wagner): Elsas Traum 30036 BA 28187

Aida (Verdi): O cieli azzurri 30039

Freischutz (Weber): Wie nahte mir der Schlummer 30047 BA 28117

Edison 4-min cylinders, New York 1911/1912

Agnus Dei (Bizet) 28008 BA 28171

Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach): Barcarole with Chalmers 28024 BA 28101

Robin Hood (de Koven): O promise me 28029 BA 28165

Serenade (Gounod) BA 28175

Edison, New York 1915-01? (late 1914?)

Stabat Mater (Rossini): Inflammatus wih chorus 82101 BA 28212

Edison, New York 1915-04/05
Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d'arte  82107 3801-C

Edison, New York 1915-12?

Whispering hope (Hawthorne) with Miller 82543 BA 28233

Edison, New York 1916

Martha (Flotow): The last rose of summer 83076

Edison, New York 1916-02?

O, divine Redeemer (Gounod) 83076 PA 29048

Edison, New York 1916-03?

Attila (Verdi): Praise Ye with Carl Jorn and Arthur Middleton 83046 BA 28238

Edison, New York 1916-04-25

Wenn die Schwalben heimwarts zieh'n (Abt) with Jacques Urlus BA 28242 4687

Edison, New York 1916-08?

Stille Nacht (Gruber) 83063 BA 28249

Manon Lescaut (Puccini): In quelle trine morbide 82259 4953-B

Edison, New York 1916-09

Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere with Giovanni Zenatello and chorus 82288 5007-A

Aida (Verdi): O terra addio with Giovanni Zenatello and chorus 83066 5014-A
Aida (Verdi): La fatal pietra with Giovanni Zenatello 83035 5017-C

Aida (Verdi): Pur ti riveggo with Giovanni Zenatello 82571 5023-C 
Aida (Verdi): Fuggiam gli ardori with Giovanni Zenatello 82201 5025-A

Edison, New York 1916-12-20

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): Chi mi frena with Giovanni Zenatello, Marguerite Matzenauer, Arthur Middleton, Thomas Chalmers and Enrico Baroni 82266 5224-A

Edison, New York 1918-07/08

Trovatore (Verdi): Mira d'acerbe lagrime with Taurino Parvis PA 29015 82573

Edison, New York 1918-09
Smiles (Roberts) 82150 PA 29020

Edison, New York 1921
Reine de Saba (Gounod): Plus grand dans son obscurité 82285 8186

Carmen Floria (Soprano) (Vitoria/Spagna 1900 - ?)

She studied singing at San Sebastian under Secondino Esnaola and made her debut at Victoria Eugenia as Desdemona in ‘’Otello’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1923 Parma Teatro Regio Carmen (Micaela)

1924 Genova  Teatro Carlo Felice Carmen (Micaela)

1925 Bari Teatro Petruzzelli Falstaff (Nannetta)

1926 Losanna  Opera  Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San)

1928 Pegognaga Teatro Del Littorio Traviata (Violetta)

1931 Bologna  Teatro Duse Boheme (Musetta)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Spain 1922

Boheme (Puccini): Racconto di Mimi 13382

Boheme (Puccini): Vals 13383 
Otello (Verdi): Canzone del Salice 13388
Otello (Verdi): Ave Maria 13389

Gioconda (Ponchielli): L'amo come il fulgor with Concepción Callao 13390 SO 1956

Aida (Verdi): Oh patria mia  13391 SO 1949

Santello Grassi (Tenor)

Probably he made his debut in 1905 at the Teatro Metastasio as Alfredo in ‘’Traviata’’. He appeared mostly in italian provincial stages, but sang also abroad (Lisbon, Valencia, San Paolo). He retired from the stage in 1922.

Chronology of some appearances

1905 Prato Teatro Metastasio Traviata (Alfredo)

1907 Udine Teatro Minerva Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1909 Bergamo Teatro Nuovo  Gara Antica di M.Tarenghi

1914 Messina  Teatro Mastroieni Rigoletto (Duca)

1916 Lisbona   Coliseo Recrejos Le Maschere (Florindo)

1917 Valencia  Teatro Principal Le Maschere (Florindo)

1922 Viterbo Teatro Unione    Pagliacci (Canio)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1905?

Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile 4330 10152

Traviata (Verdi): De' miei bollenti spiriti 4331 10152

Josè Garcia (Tenor) (Jerez de la Frontera ? - ?)

He studied singing under Goula and Reynes and made his debut in Spain. He went to Italy and made his italian debut in 1903 at the Politeama Piana of Badia Polesine in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’ and ‘’Pagliacci’’. Probably he retired from the stage in 1919 appearing last years of his career only in Spain.

Chronology of some appearances

1903 Badia Polesine Politeama Piana Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)

1905 Modena  Teatro Municipale Germania (Federico)

1907 Parma Teatro Regio Aida (Radames)

1909 Mantova Teatro Sociale  Gioconda (Enzo)

1912 Alessandria d'Egitto Teatro Alhambra Fanciulla del West (Johnson)

1913 Reggio Emilia Beata Vergine della Ghiara Requiem di G.Verdi

1919 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Guglielmo Ratcliff (Guglielmo)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, 1905?

Trovatore (Verdi): Di quella pira 10468

El Canto del Presidiario (Alvarez)  22514

Carmen (Bizet): Mia madre vedo ancor with Gina Ciaparelli 10469

Odeon, Milano 1905/1906

Otello (Verdi): Esultate... Ora e per sempre addio  37173 Xm383
Andrea Chénier (Giordano): Improvviso 37280 Xm385

Lombardi (Verdi): La mia letizia infondere 37212 Xm451mb
Africaine (Meyerbeer): O paradiso 37235 Xm386

Norma (Bellini): Meco all'altar di venere 37237 Xm428
Otello (Verdi): Dio mi potevi scagliare 37174 Xm429
Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns): Figli miei v'arrestate! 37238

Pierre D’Assy (Bass) (Liège 1867 – Lyon 1910)

Against the will of his family he studied singing under Jacques Bouhy in Paris. When he appeared there at the Théâtre Porte St. Martin, the manager of the opera house of Lyon heard him and engaged him as the first bass in his opera house, where he made his debut in the 1897-98 season as Cardinal in ‘’La Juive’’ of Halévy. After his successful appearances in Lyon as Sarastro in ‘’Magic flute’’ and in Gounod’s ‘’La Reine de Sheba’’, he was obliged in 1898 to the Théâtre de la Haye in Hague. In 1899 he joined to the ensamble of  the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels and sang as a beginning part there the role of Ramphis in ‘’Aida’’. Till 1907 he belonged to the most successful ensemble members of this famous Belgian opera house. Here in 1902 he appeared in the French première of the opera ‘’La Fiancée de la Mer’’ of Jan Blockx in the part of the Morik; he also sang in the Brussels in the premières of Charpentier’s ‘’Louise’’ (1901), ‘’Pepita Jimenez’’ of d'Albeniz (1905), ‘’Tijl Ulenspiegel’’ (1900) of Jan Blockx, ‘’Martylle’’ of A. Dupuis. He married the opera singer Jeanne Paquot-d'Assy (1878-1959), who also performed in Brussels and engaged with him in 1907 by the Grand Opéra of Paris. His debut role in this opera house was the Hunding in ‘’Die Walkure’’. He died at the height of his career during a guest performance in Lyon.

Chronology of some appearances

1897-98 Lyon Opera House La Juive (Cardinal)

1898 Hague Théâtre de la Haye 

1899-1907 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie  

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone, Paris 1908

Zauberflöte (Mozart): Air de Sarastro 3-32851 6231h

Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Pif, paf, pouf  3-32857 6232h

Mireille (Gounod): Si les filles d'Arles sont reines 032080 830i

Faust (Gounod): Mais ce Dieu with Antonio Rocca 034024 832i

Faust (Gounod): A moi les plaisirs with Antonio Rocca 034025 833i
Faust (Gounod): Choral des épées with Auguez de Montalant, Rocca and Vigneau 3-32875 6499h

Gramophone, Paris 1908-10?
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Conjuration with Bakkers, Boussagol and chorus 034032 885i

Carmen (Bizet): Votre toast with chorus 032107 886i

Gramophone, Paris 1908-11-05
Chalet (Adam): Dans ce bois de sapins with Georges Regis 034037 0848v

Gramophone, Paris 1908-12-02
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Bénédiction des poignards with chorus 032108 0865v

Giuseppe Noto (Baritone) (Torre del Greco 1883 - Milano 1979)

                                                                  Jago

Although already in 1915 he appeared at the Teatro San Carlo in Napoli as Amonasro in ‘’Aida’’, but he excited attention when he sang in 1922 at La Scala in Milan in ‘’Il Tabarro’’. In 1921 he appeared successfuly at the Teatro Regio of Turin as Kurwenal in ‘’Tristan und Isolde’’. In 1919 he sang at the Teatro Donizetti of Bergamo, in 1929 he appeared there again as Telramund in ‘’Lohengrin’’. He sang the same part and the role of Gérard in ‘’Andrea Chénier’’ in 1929 at the Teatro Massimo of Palermo. In 1926 he made guest appearances at Covent Garden as a partner of famous prima donna Maria Jeritza in ‘’I gioielli della Madonna’’ of  Wolf-Ferrari, and as Jago in ‘’Otello’’. In 1939 he took part at the Teatro San Carlo of Napoli in the premiere of the opera ‘’Il Malato imaginario’’ of J. Napoli. Last he lived at the Casa di riposo Verdi in Milan.

Chronology of some appearances

1915 Napoli Teatro San Carlo  Aida (Amonasro)

1921 Turin Teatro Regio Tristan und Isolde (Kurwenal)

1922 Milan La Scala Il Tabarro (Michele)

1926 London Covent Garden Otello (Jago)

1929 Bergamo Teatro Donizetti Lohengrin (Telramund)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Fonografia Nazionale
Forza del destino (Verdi) Le minaccie with Ettore Bergamaschi  2057
Forza del destino (Verdi) Non si placa il mio furor  with Ettore Bergamaschi  2058

HMV, Milano 1925-06-10

Rigoletto (Verdi): Pari siamo  R5187 7-252444

HMV, London 1926-06-17 (actual performance)

Otello (Verdi): Inaffia l'ugola with Cilla, Dua and chorus 2-054164

Otello (Verdi): Mio signore with Zenatello DB953 2-054165

Otello (Verdi): Atroce!... Ora e per sempre addio with Zenatello DB953 2-054166

Otello (Verdi): Si pel ciel with Zenatello DB954 2-054170

Otello (Verdi): Dio mi potevi scagliar with Zenatello DB954 2-054169

Otello (Verdi): Questa è una ragna with Zenatello and Cilla DB955 2-054167

Fonotipia, Milano 1927-05-19
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Si può, si può Fonotipia 168068 Pho5931
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Un nido di memorie Fonotipia 168068 Pho5932

Fonotipia, Milano 1927-10-15

Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Alla vita che t'arride B3785 Pho6044

Fonotipia, Milano 1928-10-25
Napule e Surriento (Tagliaferri) 168214 Pho6431
Torna a Surriento (de Curtis) 168214 Pho6432

HMV, Milano 1940-11-30

Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Ah! Non v'avvicinate... No! Pazzo son...Guardate with Gigli  DA5398 0BA4189

Gabriel Soulacroix (Baritone) (Villeneuve-sur-Lot (Dep. Loire-et-Garonne) 1853 – Parigi 1905)

He studied singing at the conservatoires of Toulouse and Paris. He made his debut in 1878 at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels in Gounod’s ‘’Mireille’’. After significant success in Brussels and at the French province he was engaged in 1885 by the Opéra-Comique in Paris (debut as Bellamy in ‘’Les dragons de Villars’’ of Maillart). Here he appeared in the premiere of the operas ‘’La Basoche’’ of Messager (30. 5. 1890), ‘’Pêcheurs de perles’’ of Bizet  (1893) and in French première of Verdi’s ‘’Falstaff’’ (1894). In 1887, during of theatre fire at the Opéra-Comique, he saved the lives of many people. Till 1894 he remained at the Opéra-Comique, where he also guested later; then, however, primarily he sang at the Théâtre Gaité Lyrique in Paris. At the Opéra-Comique he also appeared in 1898 in the French première of Puccini’s ‘’La Bohème’’. From 1881-1904 he appeared at Covent Garden in London and sang parts like Figaro in ‘’Barbiere di Siviglia’’, Escamillo in ‘’Carmen’’ and Mercutio in ‘’Roméo et Juliette’’ of Gounod. Here in 1884 he also performed in the English première of the opera ‘’Sigurd’’ of  Reyer. At the opera house of Monte Carlo he performed in the premiere of the opera ‘’Messaline’’ of Isidore de Lara together with Francesco Tamagno and Meyriane Héglon. On 18. 2. 1902 at the same house he sang in the premiere of Massenet’s ‘’Le Jongleur de Notre Dame’’. He died quite suddenly, at the height of his career.

Chronology of some appearances

1878 Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie  

1885-1904 Paris Opéra-Comique

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Berliner, Paris 1900-07

Herodiade (Massenet): Vision fugitive 32700 994G

Rip-Rip (Planquette): Couplets de la paresse 32855 997G

Basoche (Messager): A ton amour 32656 1025G

Timbre d'Argent (Saint-Saëns): Napolitaine 32676 1093G

Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1902?

Basoche (Messager): Je suis aime de la plus belle 0291

Basoche (Messager): Quand tu connaоtras Colette 0292

Noces de Jeannette (Masse): Enfin, me voilа seul 0442

Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1902/1903

Traviata (Verdi): Lorsqu'а de folles amours 3695

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Air de Figaro 3712

Jongleur de Notre-Dame (Massenet): Legende de la sauge 3691

Rip (Planquette): Couplets de la paresse 3723

Dutreih cylinders & discs, Paris 1904?

Quand l'oiseau chante (Tagliafico) 151807

Odeon, Paris 1904?

Richard, Coeur-de-Lion (Gretry): O Richard, o mon roi 33396

Martha (Flotow): Romance 33464

Odeon, Paris 1905?

Zauberflute (Mozart): Ton coeur m'attend with Leclerc 36151

Philemon et Baucis (Meyerbeer): Relevez-vous with Leclerc 36153