Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Nov 23, 2016

Irene Abendroth (Soprano) ( Lviv, Ukraine 1872 - Weidling, Vienna 1932)




Her parents were jewish. She showed quite early a special musical talent. At the age of eight she already appeared in a concert, then studied singing under Francesco Lamperti and Campanini in Milan, with Mampe-Babnigg and Aurelie Wilczek in Wien. In 1888 she made her concert debut in Karlsbad. Her opera debut was happened in 1889 at the Hofoper in Wien as Amina in ‘’La Sonnambula’’. In the 1889-1890 season she appeared at the Hofoper in Wien, from 1890 to 1891 season at the Latvijas Nacionālā Opera in Riga, in the 1891-1894 seasons at the Hofoper in München, from 1894 to 1899 seasons again at the Hofoper in Wien, where she performed in the premiere of the opera ‘’Das Heimchen am Herd’’ by Goldmark (21. 3. 1896). Since 1899 she was engaged by the the Hofoper in Dresden, where her career lasted till 1909 and reached her climax. She made guest appearances at the Hofopern of Berlin (several times between 1905 and 1907) and Stuttgart, at the Opernhaus in Frankfurt a.M. (1907), at the Deutschen Theater in Prag (1907) and at the Opernhaus in Leipzig. In Dresden she sang in 1902 in the German première of G. Puccini’s ‘’Tosca’’, on 30. 10. 1903 she took part there in the premiere of the opera ‘’Odysseus Tod’’ by August Bungert. Later she still appeared in the concert hall, however, worked since 1910 in Vienna as vocal pedagogue. Since 1900 she was married to Austrian Federal Railroad manager Thomas Joseph Taller, but during the inflation, after the First World War, she lost nearly her whole property and lived in poor relations in Vienna. She found her last place of rest on the cemetery of Weidling, not far from the grave of the poet Nikolaus Lenau. Her repertoire included Norma, Traviata, Philine in ‘’Mignon’’of A. Thomas, Rosina in ‘’Il Barbiere di Siviglia’’, Donna Elvira in ‘’ Don Giovanni’’, Isabella in ‘’Robert le Diable’’, Marguerite de Valois in ‘’Les Huguenots’’, Selika in L’ Africaine’’, Gilda in ‘’Rigoletto’’, Leonora in ‘’Il Trovatore’’, Amelia in ‘’Un Ballo in maschera’’, Desdemona in ‘’Otello’’, Nedda in ‘’Pagliacci’’ and Rezia in ‘’Oberon’’. In 1902 she made 11 records for G&T in Dresden.

Chronology of some appearances

1889-1890 Wien Hofoper
1890-1891 Latvijas Nacionālā Opera
1891-1894 München Hofoper
1894-1899 Wien Hofoper
1899 Dresden Hofoper
1905 Berlin Hofoper
1907 Frankfurt a.M. Opernhaus
1907 Prag Deutschen Theater

Nov 19, 2016

Georges Felisaz (Tenor) (Casteljaloux, France 14 Jul 1881 - ?)





In 1910's he appeared in Lyon (Grand Théatre), Monpellier (Théâtre Municipal) and Havre (Grand Thêatre) as Duca in  ''Rigoletto'' by G. Verdi, Werther in J. Massenet's ''Werther'' and as De Grieux in ''Manon'' of the same composer. 

Chronology of some appearances

Lyon Grand-Théatre
Monpellier Théâtre Municipal
Havre Grand Thêatre

RECORDINGS FOR SALE









Edison 4-min cylinders, Paris 1909?
Myrella la jolie (Berniaux) BA 27044
Rêverie du soir bleu  18133
Mireille (Gounod): Anges du paradis 17065 BA 27052


Embed Music - Download Audio -

Nov 12, 2016

Madeleine Sibille (Paris, France February 25, 1895 – Paris, France July 19, 1984)




She studied under Engel in Paris and made her debut in 1919 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. For more than twenty years she remained a member of this opera house and had her most important success in dramatic repertoire. At the Opéra-Comique she appeared in several operatic premieres: ‘’Lorenzaccio’’ of Ernest Moret (19. 5. 1920),  ‘’L'Appel de la Mer’’ by Henri Rabaud (10. 4. 1924), ‘’Le pauvre matelot’’ of Darius Milhaud (16. 12. 1927), ‘’Le Peau de Chagrin’’ by Charles Lavadé (24. 4. 1929). In 1939 still there she appeared as the first dramatic soprano. Her repertoire included Santuzza in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’, Charlotte in ‘’Werther’’ of  J. Massenet, Carmen, Margared in ‘’Le Roi d'Ys’’ of E. Lalo and Tosca. Later she taught singing in Paris.

Chronology of some appearances

1919-1939 Paris Opéra-Comique

RECORDINGS FOR SALE









Pathé, Paris 1926 - 1931
Tosca (Puccini): D'art et d'amour 0667 N201425-1-R
Roi d'Ys (Lalo): Air de Margared 7150 N201291-1
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Romance de Santuzza 7150 N201290-1
Thérèse (Massenet): Jour de juin 3411 N201971-A-1
Carmen (Bizet): Habanera 7133
Marche Lorraine (Ganne) 3454 N202410
Roi d'Ys (Lalo): Margared, ô ma soeur with Vallin 7233
Roi d'Ys (Lalo): En silence, pourquoi souffrir with Vallin 7233
Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach): Barcarolle with Vallin 2622

Pathé, Paris 1932-07
Fille de Mme Angot (Lecocq): Jours fortunés with Ninon Vallin X90058 250286-MC1

Pathé, Paris 1932?
Bohème (Puccini): Quatuor, act 3 with Vallin, Villabella & Baugé X90056 N250274


Listen Music Files - Play Audio -