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

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

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)

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

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

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

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