FRENCH MEZZO-SOPRANO GEORGETTE FROZIER-MARROT (1894-1978) CDR

 

GEORGETTE FROZIER-MARROT (1894 - 1978)

 

 

 

 

She was a member of the Grand Opéra in Paris from 1924 to 1929, performing roles such as Dalila in Saint-Saëns's Samson et Dalila, Didon in Berlioz's Les Troyens, and Hérodiade in Massenet's opera of the same name. In 1928, she gave successful performances at Covent Garden in London as Dalila and Carmen, appearing alongside Fernand Ansseau and Marcel Journet. In 1929, she joined the Opéra-Comique in Paris, where she sang Carmen, Margared in Lalo's Le Roi d'Ys, and other roles. Over the following twenty years, she appeared at leading theaters across provincial France and, from 1929 onward, frequently at the Monte Carlo Opera. As late as 1950, she was a guest artist in Strasbourg, performing Brangäne in Tristan.

Recordings: Her beautiful voice was first captured in Pathé recordings. In 1929, two recordings from Les Troyens were released by HMV; however, these soon disappeared from catalogs and are now extremely rare.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Carmen (Bizet) Habanera 0513 200212 Pathé, Paris 19251926

Erlkoening (Schubert) (Fr.) BFX 4  D 328 Columbia

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Amour, viens aider ma faiblesse 0513 Pathé, Paris 19251926

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix 0469 1141-c Pathé, Paris 19251926

Serse (Handel) Largo BFX 4 WLX 1638 Columbia

Trovatore (Verdi) La flamme brille 0517 Pathé, Paris 1929

Troyens à Carthage (Berlioz) Adieu, fière cité W1032 (033305) CN410-2 HMV, Paris 1929-03-11

Troyens à Carthage (Berlioz) Chers Tyriens W1032 (033304) CN409-2 HMV, Paris 1929-03-11

FRENCH MEZZO-SOPRANO GEORGETTE FROZIER-MARROT (1894-1978) CDR

PRICE: 15$ SHIPPING COST: 10$

WELSH BARITONE IVOR FOSTER (1870-1959) CDR

 

IVOR LLEWELYN FOSTER (TRAMROAD, PONTYPRIDD, 1 MARCH, 1870 – PORTH-CAWL, 29 MARCH, 1959)

 

 

 

Born at Tramroad, Pontypridd, on 1 March 1870, he was the son of Ebenezer Foster and Sarah (née John) of Pen-y-graig, Rhondda, Glamorgan. He left school at the age of 12, and when he was 16, while working in his uncle William Richards’s business in Dinas, Rhondda, he began to study old notation in his spare time and took part in eisteddfodau. He won singing prizes at the Porth annual eisteddfod in 1892, 1893, and 1894, and twice won the baritone solo at the National Eisteddfod (Caernarfon 1894 and Llanelli 1895).

Following his success in Llanelli, some of his friends in the Rhondda arranged concerts for him to raise funds for further musical training. He entered the Royal College of Music in London in May 1896, where he studied for four years—voice with Henry Blower, harmony with James Higgs, and opera with Villiers Stanford. He won a gold medal during his first year, and before the end of his course, Sir Hubert Parry remarked that he was one of the best baritones ever to study at the College.

In 1901 he portrayed Don Pedro in a performance of Stanford’s opera Much Ado About Nothing at Covent Garden. He later sang in the Promenade Concerts and Boosey’s Ballad Concerts in London, and appeared for 27 consecutive seasons at the Royal Albert Hall. He also sang at music festivals, including the Cardiff Festival on three occasions, and made recordings of Welsh songs on the Winner label. After retiring from public performance, he established himself as a music teacher.

He married Mary Ann Jones of Tonypandy on 29 May 1897 (she died in 1971). He died at his home in Porthcawl on 29 March 1959 and was cremated at Llanishen, Cardiff. In 1962 his family endowed £300 to establish memorial prizes in his name for the Open Baritone and the Baritone Under 25 competitions at the National Eisteddfod.

 

 

TRACKLIST 

 

A perfect day 2869 Winner

Bird of love devine 2403 Columbia

Corisande 2379 28878 Columbia

In an old-fashioned town (Squire) 2403 28875 Columbia

Roses of Picardy 3158 Winner

Samson (Handel) How willing my paternal love 66358 Odeon

She is far from the land 1006 Edison Velvet Face

The Heart Bowed Down (Balfe) 66656 Odeon

Tired hands 3158 Winner

Two eyes of grey 1006 Edison Velvet Face

Up from Somerset 2379 28877 Columbia

When you come home 2869 Winner

WELSH BARITONE IVOR FOSTER (1870-1959) CDR

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GERMAN SOPRANO GERTRUDE FÖRSTEL (1876-1950) CDR

 

GERTRUDE FÖRSTEL (LEIPZIG, 4 DECEMBER, 1876 (ALTERNATIVELY 21 DECEMBER, 1880) – BAD GODESBERG, 7 JUNE, 1950)

 

 

 

Förstel, the daughter of Gewandhaus Orchestra violinist Eduard Förstel, was originally intended to become a pianist. She studied at the Leipzig Conservatory from 1891 to 1897, where her teachers included Oscar Paul and Adolf Ruthardt. In 1897, she made her public debut as a pianist in Werdau.

Angelo Neumann, however, recognized her vocal talent and arranged for her training—at his own expense—in Berlin with Bertha Niklas-Kempner and in Dresden with Aglaja Orgeni. She made her operatic debut on September 1, 1900, at the Prague State Theatre as “Amina” in Bellini’s La Sonnambula (The Nightwalker).

On April 11, 1905, she appeared as a guest at the Vienna Court Opera, singing Sulamith in Goldmark’s Die Königin von Saba (The Queen of Sheba). From September 1, 1906, to January 31, 1912, she was a member of the Vienna Court Opera ensemble, making her house debut on September 4, 1906, as Mignon. Between 1904 and 1912, she was also a frequent performer at the Bayreuth Festival.

From 1912 until the end of her stage career, she devoted herself exclusively to concert singing, later teaching voice at the Cologne University of Music. She was particularly admired for her interpretation of the soprano solo in Mahler’s Fourth Symphony.

Gertrude Förstel made recordings for G&T (Prague, 1903 and 1906; Bayreuth, 1904), Pathé (Vienna, 1909), and Grammophon (Berlin, 1925).

 

TRACKLIST

  

 

Carmen (Bizet) Ich sprach, dass ich furchtlos mich fühle 43519, 1952x G&T, Praha 1903/1904

Die Nachtigall (Alabieff) 43501 1902x G&T, Praha 1903/1904

Faust (Gounod) Ha! welch Glück 43504, 1903x G&T, Praha 1903/1904

Götterdämmerung (Wagner) Frau Sonne sendet lichte Strahlen (w. Paalen & Pohlner) 51186, 51187, Pathé, Wien 1909

Lohengrin (Wagner) Du Ärmste (w. Langendorff) 2-44118 3679L G&T, Praha 1906-03

Mignon (Thomas) Kam ein armes Kind von fern (Styrienne) 43551 1926x G&T, Praha 1903/1904

Norma (Bellini) Sieh'. O Norma (w. Siems) 2-44095 3677L G&T, Praha 1906-03

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Sollt' einst die Gräfin zur (w. Zador) 2-44106 3660L G&T, Praha 1906-03

Rigoletto (Verdi) Liebe ist Seligkeit (w. Aranyi) 44267 1898x G&T, Praha 1903/1904

Tannhäuser (Wagner) Frau Holda kam aus dem Berg hervor (Lied des Hirtenknaben) 43576 BAY1121e G&T, Bayreuth 1904-07/08

Wiegenlied (R Strauss) 66151 (B24275) 804az Grammophon, Berlin 1925 (Spring)

GERMAN SOPRANO GERTRUDE FÖRSTEL (1876-1950) CDR

PRICE: 15$ SHIPPING COST: 10$

AUSTRIAN SOPRANO GRETE FORST (1878-1942) 3 CDR

 

GRETE FORST (VIENNA, AUSTRIA, AUGUST 18, 1878 – MALY TROSTENETS EXTERMINATION CAMP, NEAR MINSK, BELARUS, JUNE 1, 1942)

 

 

 

Her real name was Margarete Feiglstock. She was born into a Jewish family. She studied with Hermine Granichstätten in Vienna. In 1898, she made her first public appearance at a student concert in that city. She made her stage debut in 1900 at the Cologne Opera House as Lucia in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. In the same year, she took part in the world premiere of Emanuel Moor's opera La Pompadour.

In the following years she enjoyed success in Cologne in roles such as Philine in Thomas’s Mignon and Marie in Donizetti’s La fille du régiment. In the latter role, as well as in that of Gilda in Rigoletto, she appeared as a guest at the Vienna Court Opera, which subsequently engaged her in 1903. Her inaugural role there was once again Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor.

She soon achieved great success in Vienna. On January 2, 1908, she appeared in the premiere of Goldmark's Ein Wintermärchen, and on April 14, 1910, in the premiere of Julius Bittner's Der Musikant. In 1907, she sang the title role in the first Vienna Court Opera performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Among her other major successes in Vienna were Adalgisa in Bellini’s Norma (with Lilli Lehmann in the title role), Eva in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and several Mozart heroines.

In 1905 she returned to Cologne as Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. She remained a member of the Vienna Court Opera until 1911, but also undertook guest appearances and was active as a concert soprano, performing at events such as the Lower Rhine Music Festival.

After her marriage in 1911, she often appeared under the name Grete Forst-Schuschny. She later taught singing in Vienna for many years. After the Anschluss, as a Jew, she was in grave danger. For a long time she was listed as missing during World War II, but it was later discovered that on May 27, 1942, she was deported with other Jewish residents of Vienna to Minsk, where she perished. Her son, Hans Schuschny, had emigrated to the USA in 1939.

The tragically fated coloratura soprano possessed extraordinary vocal brilliance, with exceptional technical facility and a floating, luminous tone. Fortunately, a number of fine recordings of her survive on G&T (Vienna, 1905), Lyrophon (Vienna, 1904), and Pathé (Vienna, 1904).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Aida (Verdi) Tempelszene (w. Stehmann & chorus) 2-44322 11756u G&T, Wien 1907-1112

Aida (Verdi) Zu des Niles heil'gen Ufern (w. Elizza, Slezak, Stehmann, Mayr & chorus) 3-44055 15230u Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-02

Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Durchstrahlt von tausend Lampen (w. Elizza, Weidemann, Stehmann & Mayr) 3-44034 14691u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Also soll ich (w. Weidemann) 2-44175 10058u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Arie der Rosina 43830 4244L G&T, Wien 1906

Bohème (Puccini) Lebt wohl, ihr süssen Stunden (w. Kurz, Slezak & Weidemann) 2-44237 10777u G&T, Wien 1907

Bohème (Puccini) Mimis Tod 43942 10785u G&T, Wien 1907-06

Bohème (Puccini) Walzer der Musette 43943 10786u G&T, Wien 1907-06

Carmen (Bizet) Arie der Micaela 43902 9953u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Carmen (Bizet) Quintett (w. Elizza, Kittel, Preuss & Stehmann) 2-44121 4286L G&T, 1906

Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach) Lied der Antonia (Elle a fui) 43978 11126u G&T, Wien 1907-07

Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach) Puppenarie 43792 4206L G&T, Wien 1906

Der Musikant (Bittner) Arie der Violetta 2-43373 15050b Gramophone, Wien 1910-10-29

Die Trommel gerührt (Beethoven) 943022 12491L Gramophone, Wien 1911-05-31

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Schmäle, tobe, lieber Junge 43872 9947u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Viva la libertà (Freiheitschor) (w. Preus, Kittel, Hesch, Stehmann & chorus) 2-44226 10828u G&T, Wien 1907-06

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Wenn du fein fromm bist 43865 9954u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Dragons de Villars (Maillart) Arie der Rose Friquet (Il m'aime) 43905 9952u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Faust (Gounod) Arie der Siebel 43877 9948u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Fidelio (Beethoven) Jetzt, Schätzchen, jetzt sind wir allein (w. Preuss) 044129 01008v Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Fidelio (Beethoven) Mir ist so wunderbar (w. Elizza, Preuss & Mayr) 044130 01011v Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Fille du Régiment (Donizetti) Abschiedslied (w. Preuss, Hesch & chorus) 2-44268 10829u G&T, Wien 1907

Fille du Régiment (Donizetti) Ach umsonst denkt ihr mich 43803 4205L G&T, Wien 1906

Fra Diavolo (Auber) Arie der Zerline (Quel bonheur) 43906 9949u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Fra Diavolo (Auber) Welches Glück 2-43144 13043u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) O Seligkeit (w. Slezak) 2-44419 13045u Gramophone, Wien 1908-06

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Romanze (Sombre forêt) 43891 9951u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Pagenarie 43662 6602½b G&T, Wien 1905-02

Königin von Saba (Goldmark) Lockruf 43814 4245L G&T, Wien 1906

Lakmé (Delibes) Laub'ges Dach (w. Kittel) 3-44070 15100u Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-15

Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) Du reizend liebes Schätzchen (w. Kittel, Hesch & chorus) 2-44269 10830u G&T, Wien 1907

Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) Frohsinn und Laune 43890 9950u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) Nun eilt vorbei 43903 9996u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Blumenduett (w. Kittel) 2-44410 13310u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Deine Mutter 2-43112 13042u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Eines Tages sind wir 2-43111 13041u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Wollt ihr mich nun lieben (w. Preuss) 2-44409 13051u Gramophone, 1908

Martha (Flotow) Diese Hand (w. Preuss) 2-44420 13049u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Martha (Flotow) Mag der Himmel (w. Kittel, Preuss, Hesch, Stehmann & chorus) 2-44225 10827u G&T, 1907

Martha (Flotow) Wass soll ich dazu sagen (w. Kittel, Preuss & Stehmann) 3-44017 14652u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Selig wie die Sonne (w. Preuss, Kittel, Slezak & Demuth) 044144 01198v Gramophone, 1909-09-17

Mignon (Thomas) Titania ist herabgestiegen 2-43264 14666½u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Ihr, die ihr Triebe 2-43242 14649u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Neue Freuden 2-43263 13855u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0910

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Nun wird's bald geschehen (w. Kittel & Weidemann) Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) O säume länger nicht (Rosenarie) 2-43241 14648u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Heute fällt mein Geschick (w. Weidemann) 3-44040 15110u Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-16

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Sieh, wie Vögel fliegen (Vogellied) 2-43326 11169u G&T, Wien 1907-07

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Warum hieltst du mich sehnend umfangen (w. Weidemann) 3-44041 15111u Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-16

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Was gibt's (w. Demuth) 044155 01216v Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-07

Pikova Dama (Tchaikovsky) Schäfer-Duett (w. Kittel) 3-44005 14577u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Prodana Nevesta (Smetana) Gern ja will ich dir vertrauen 2-43359 15140b Gramophone, Wien 1910-11-09

Prodana Nevesta (Smetana) Wart' noch ein Weilchen, Marie (w. Elizza, Kittel, Stehmann, Weidemann & Hesch) 2-44323 11737½u G&T, Wien 1907-1112

Prodana Nevesta (Smetana) Wie fremd ist alles um mich her 2-43360 15139b Gramophone, Wien 1910-11-09

Rigoletto (Verdi) Gestern spät abends (w. Demuth) 044154 0993v Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Pagenarie (Que fais-tu) 2-43372 15138b Gramophone, Wien 1910-11-09

Ständchen (Brahms) 943023 12492L Gramophone, Wien 1911-05-31

Traviata (Verdi) Er ist es 043045 817f G&T, Wien 1904-0708

Wintermärchen (Goldmark) Schmücket euch 2-43145 13044u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Zauberflöte (Mozart) Schnelle, Füsse, raschen Mut (w. Preuss, Weidemann & chorus) 044133 0995v Gramophone, 1909-05

AUSTRIAN SOPRANO GRETE FORST (1878-1942) 3 CDR

PRICE: 45$ SHIPPING COST: 20$

AUSTRIAN SOPRANO GRETE FORST (1878-1942) VOL. 3 CDR

 

GRETE FORST (VIENNA, AUSTRIA, AUGUST 18, 1878 – MALY TROSTENETS EXTERMINATION CAMP, NEAR MINSK, BELARUS, JUNE 1, 1942)

 

 

 

Her real name was Margarete Feiglstock. She was born into a Jewish family. She studied with Hermine Granichstätten in Vienna. In 1898, she made her first public appearance at a student concert in that city. She made her stage debut in 1900 at the Cologne Opera House as Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. In the same year, she took part in the world premiere of Emanuel Moor’s opera La Pompadour.

In the following years she enjoyed success in Cologne in roles such as Philine in Thomas’s Mignon and Marie in Donizetti’s La fille du régiment. In the latter role, as well as in that of Gilda in Rigoletto, she appeared as a guest at the Vienna Court Opera, which subsequently engaged her in 1903. Her inaugural role there was once again Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor.

She soon achieved great success in Vienna. On January 2, 1908, she appeared in the premiere of Goldmark’s Ein Wintermärchen, and on April 14, 1910, in the premiere of Julius Bittner’s Der Musikant. In 1907, she sang the title role in the first Vienna Court Opera performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Among her other major successes in Vienna were Adalgisa in Bellini’s Norma (with Lilli Lehmann in the title role), Eva in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and several Mozart heroines.

In 1905 she returned to Cologne as Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. She remained a member of the Vienna Court Opera until 1911, but also undertook guest appearances and was active as a concert soprano, performing at events such as the Lower Rhine Music Festival.

After her marriage in 1911, she often appeared under the name Grete Forst-Schuschny. She later taught singing in Vienna for many years. After the Anschluss, as a Jew, she was in grave danger. For a long time she was listed as missing during World War II, but it was later discovered that on May 27, 1942, she was deported with other Jewish residents of Vienna to Minsk, where she perished. Her son, Hans Schuschny, had emigrated to the USA in 1939.

The tragically fated coloratura soprano possessed extraordinary vocal brilliance, with exceptional technical facility and a floating, luminous tone. Fortunately, a number of fine recordings of her survive on G&T (Vienna, 1905), Lyrophon (Vienna, 1904), and Pathé (Vienna, 1904).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Selig wie die Sonne (w. Preuss, Kittel, Slezak & Demuth) 044144 01198v Gramophone, 1909-09-17

Mignon (Thomas) Titania ist herabgestiegen 2-43264 14666½u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Ihr, die ihr Triebe 2-43242 14649u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Neue Freuden 2-43263 13855u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0910

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Nun wird’s bald geschehen (w. Kittel & Weidemann) Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) O säume länger nicht (Rosenarie) 2-43241 14648u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Heute fällt mein Geschick (w. Weidemann) 3-44040 15110u Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-16

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Sieh, wie Vögel fliegen (Vogellied) 2-43326 11169u G&T, Wien 1907-07

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Warum hieltst du mich sehnend umfangen (w. Weidemann) 3-44041 15111u Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-16

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Was gibt’s (w. Demuth) 044155 01216v Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-07

Pikova Dama (Tchaikovsky) Schäfer-Duett (w. Kittel) 3-44005 14577u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Prodana Nevesta (Smetana) Gern ja will ich dir vertrauen 2-43359 15140b Gramophone, Wien 1910-11-09

Prodana Nevesta (Smetana) Wart’ noch ein Weilchen, Marie (w. Elizza, Kittel, Stehmann, Weidemann & Hesch) 2-44323 11737½u G&T, Wien 1907-1112

Prodana Nevesta (Smetana) Wie fremd ist alles um mich her 2-43360 15139b Gramophone, Wien 1910-11-09

Rigoletto (Verdi) Gestern spät abends (w. Demuth) 044154 0993v Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Pagenarie (Que fais-tu) 2-43372 15138b Gramophone, Wien 1910-11-09

Ständchen (Brahms) 943023 12492L Gramophone, Wien 1911-05-31

Traviata (Verdi) Er ist es 043045 817f G&T, Wien 1904-0708

Wintermärchen (Goldmark) Schmücket euch 2-43145 13044u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Zauberflöte (Mozart) Schnelle, Füsse, raschen Mut (w. Preuss, Weidemann & chorus) 044133 0995v Gramophone, 1909-05

AUSTRIAN SOPRANO GRETE FORST (1878-1942) VOL. 3 CDR

PRICE: 15$ SHIPPING COST: 10$

AUSTRIAN SOPRANO GRETE FORST (1878-1942) VOL. 2 CDR

 

GRETE FORST (VIENNA, AUSTRIA, AUGUST 18, 1878 – MALY TROSTENETS EXTERMINATION CAMP, NEAR MINSK, BELARUS, JUNE 1, 1942)

 

 

 

Her real name was Margarete Feiglstock. She was born into a Jewish family. She studied with Hermine Granichstätten in Vienna. In 1898, she made her first public appearance at a student concert in that city. She made her stage debut in 1900 at the Cologne Opera House as Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. In the same year, she took part in the world premiere of Emanuel Moor’s opera La Pompadour.

In the following years she enjoyed success in Cologne in roles such as Philine in Thomas’s Mignon and Marie in Donizetti’s La fille du régiment. In the latter role, as well as in that of Gilda in Rigoletto, she appeared as a guest at the Vienna Court Opera, which subsequently engaged her in 1903. Her inaugural role there was once again Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor.

She soon achieved great success in Vienna. On January 2, 1908, she appeared in the premiere of Goldmark’s Ein Wintermärchen, and on April 14, 1910, in the premiere of Julius Bittner’s Der Musikant. In 1907, she sang the title role in the first Vienna Court Opera performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Among her other major successes in Vienna were Adalgisa in Bellini’s Norma (with Lilli Lehmann in the title role), Eva in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and several Mozart heroines.

In 1905 she returned to Cologne as Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. She remained a member of the Vienna Court Opera until 1911, but also undertook guest appearances and was active as a concert soprano, performing at events such as the Lower Rhine Music Festival.

After her marriage in 1911, she often appeared under the name Grete Forst-Schuschny. She later taught singing in Vienna for many years. After the Anschluss, as a Jew, she was in grave danger. For a long time she was listed as missing during World War II, but it was later discovered that on May 27, 1942, she was deported with other Jewish residents of Vienna to Minsk, where she perished. Her son, Hans Schuschny, had emigrated to the USA in 1939.

The tragically fated coloratura soprano possessed extraordinary vocal brilliance, with exceptional technical facility and a floating, luminous tone. Fortunately, a number of fine recordings of her survive on G&T (Vienna, 1905), Lyrophon (Vienna, 1904), and Pathé (Vienna, 1904).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Fidelio (Beethoven) Mir ist so wunderbar (w. Elizza, Preuss & Mayr) 044130 01011v Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Fille du Régiment (Donizetti) Abschiedslied (w. Preuss, Hesch & chorus) 2-44268 10829u G&T, Wien 1907

Fille du Régiment (Donizetti) Ach umsonst denkt ihr mich 43803 4205L G&T, Wien 1906

Fra Diavolo (Auber) Arie der Zerline (Quel bonheur) 43906 9949u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Fra Diavolo (Auber) Welches Glück 2-43144 13043u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) O Seligkeit (w. Slezak) 2-44419 13045u Gramophone, Wien 1908-06

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Romanze (Sombre forêt) 43891 9951u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Pagenarie 43662 6602½b G&T, Wien 1905-02

Königin von Saba (Goldmark) Lockruf 43814 4245L G&T, Wien 1906

Lakmé (Delibes) Laub’ges Dach (w. Kittel) 3-44070 15100u Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-15

Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) Du reizend liebes Schätzchen (w. Kittel, Hesch & chorus) 2-44269 10830u G&T, Wien 1907

Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) Frohsinn und Laune 43890 9950u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) Nun eilt vorbei 43903 9996u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Blumenduett (w. Kittel) 2-44410 13310u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Deine Mutter 2-43112 13042u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Eines Tages sind wir 2-43111 13041u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Wollt ihr mich nun lieben (w. Preuss) 2-44409 13051u Gramophone, 1908

Martha (Flotow) Diese Hand (w. Preuss) 2-44420 13049u Gramophone, Wien 1908-0506

Martha (Flotow) Mag der Himmel (w. Kittel, Preuss, Hesch, Stehmann & chorus) 2-44225 10827u G&T, 1907

Martha (Flotow) Wass soll ich dazu sagen (w. Kittel, Preuss & Stehmann) 3-44017 14652u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

AUSTRIAN SOPRANO GRETE FORST (1878-1942) VOL. 2 CDR

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AUSTRIAN SOPRANO GRETE FORST (1878-1942) VOL. 1 CDR

 

GRETE FORST (VIENNA, AUSTRIA, AUGUST 18, 1878 – MALY TROSTENETS EXTERMINATION CAMP, NEAR MINSK, BELARUS, JUNE 1, 1942)

 

 

 

Her real name was Margarete Feiglstock. She was born into a Jewish family. She studied with Hermine Granichstätten in Vienna. In 1898, she made her first public appearance at a student concert in that city. She made her stage debut in 1900 at the Cologne Opera House as Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. In the same year, she took part in the world premiere of Emanuel Moor’s opera La Pompadour.

In the following years she enjoyed success in Cologne in roles such as Philine in Thomas’s Mignon and Marie in Donizetti’s La fille du régiment. In the latter role, as well as in that of Gilda in Rigoletto, she appeared as a guest at the Vienna Court Opera, which subsequently engaged her in 1903. Her inaugural role there was once again Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor.

She soon achieved great success in Vienna. On January 2, 1908, she appeared in the premiere of Goldmark’s Ein Wintermärchen, and on April 14, 1910, in the premiere of Julius Bittner’s Der Musikant. In 1907, she sang the title role in the first Vienna Court Opera performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Among her other major successes in Vienna were Adalgisa in Bellini’s Norma (with Lilli Lehmann in the title role), Eva in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and several Mozart heroines.

In 1905 she returned to Cologne as Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. She remained a member of the Vienna Court Opera until 1911, but also undertook guest appearances and was active as a concert soprano, performing at events such as the Lower Rhine Music Festival.

After her marriage in 1911, she often appeared under the name Grete Forst-Schuschny. She later taught singing in Vienna for many years. After the Anschluss, as a Jew, she was in grave danger. For a long time she was listed as missing during World War II, but it was later discovered that on May 27, 1942, she was deported with other Jewish residents of Vienna to Minsk, where she perished. Her son, Hans Schuschny, had emigrated to the USA in 1939.

The tragically fated coloratura soprano possessed extraordinary vocal brilliance, with exceptional technical facility and a floating, luminous tone. Fortunately, a number of fine recordings of her survive on G&T (Vienna, 1905), Lyrophon (Vienna, 1904), and Pathé (Vienna, 1904).

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Aida (Verdi) Tempelszene (w. Stehmann & chorus) 2-44322 11756u G&T, Wien 1907-1112

Aida (Verdi) Zu des Niles heil’gen Ufern (w. Elizza, Slezak, Stehmann, Mayr & chorus) 3-44055 15230u Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-02

Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Durchstrahlt von tausend Lampen (w. Elizza, Weidemann, Stehmann & Mayr) 3-44034 14691u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Also soll ich (w. Weidemann) 2-44175 10058u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Arie der Rosina 43830 4244L G&T, Wien 1906

Bohème (Puccini) Lebt wohl, ihr süssen Stunden (w. Kurz, Slezak & Weidemann) 2-44237 10777u G&T, Wien 1907

Bohème (Puccini) Mimis Tod 43942 10785u G&T, Wien 1907-06

Bohème (Puccini) Walzer der Musette 43943 10786u G&T, Wien 1907-06

Carmen (Bizet) Arie der Micaela 43902 9953u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Carmen (Bizet) Quintett (w. Elizza, Kittel, Preuss & Stehmann) 2-44121 4286L G&T, 1906

Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) Lied der Antonia (Elle a fui) 43978 11126u G&T, Wien 1907-07

Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) Puppenarie 43792 4206L G&T, Wien 1906

Der Musikant (Bittner) Arie der Violetta 2-43373 15050b Gramophone, Wien 1910-10-29

Die Trommel gerührt (Beethoven) 943022 12491L Gramophone, Wien 1911-05-31

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Schmäle, tobe, lieber Junge 43872 9947u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Viva la libertà (Freiheitschor) (w. Preus, Kittel, Hesch, Stehmann & chorus) 2-44226 10828u G&T, Wien 1907-06

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Wenn du fein fromm bist 43865 9954u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Dragons de Villars (Maillart) Arie der Rose Friquet (Il m’aime) 43905 9952u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Faust (Gounod) Arie der Siebel 43877 9948u G&T, Wien 1906-1112

Fidelio (Beethoven) Jetzt, Schätzchen, jetzt sind wir allein (w. Preuss) 044129 01008v Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

AUSTRIAN SOPRANO GRETE FORST (1878-1942) VOL. 1 CDR

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DANISH BASS JOHANNES FØNSS (1884-1964) CDR

 

JOHANNES FØNSS (AARHUS, 16 JANUARY, 1884 - COPENHAGEN, 16 DECEMBER, 1964)

 

 

 

 

He first studied with Rosenfeld in Copenhagen and made his stage debut in 1905 at the Royal Copenhagen Opera as Frère Laurent in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette. He then continued his studies in Paris and later with his fellow countryman Ejnar Forchhammer in Frankfurt am Main. From 1907 to 1909, he was engaged at the Court Theatre in Mannheim, after which he studied with Vittorio Vanzo in Milan. Between 1910 and 1914, he appeared annually at Covent Garden in London, performing primarily in Wagner roles. In 1911, he sang in the English premiere of Humperdinck's Königskinder, and in 1913 he appeared in the English premiere of Waltershausen's Oberst Chabert.

From 1912 to 1917, he was a member of the Frankfurt Opera, where he created the role of King Philip in the 1913 premiere of Verdi's Don Carlos and sang Gurnemanz in the first Frankfurt performance of Wagner's Parsifal in 1914. Guest engagements took him to Berlin, Dresden, Cologne, Wiesbaden, Zurich, and other major theaters. From 1915 to 1929, he appeared regularly at the Royal Copenhagen Opera, and in 1928 he also sang at the Royal Stockholm Opera. He performed both on stage and in concert in North America as well.

His major operatic roles included Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Daland in Der fliegende Holländer, the Landgrave in Tannhäuser, King Henry in Lohengrin, Pogner in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, King Marke in Tristan und Isolde, Fafner and Hunding in the Ring cycle, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, and Marcel in Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots.

From 1929, he held a prominent position as opera director at the Copenhagen Opera. Beginning in 1930, he also wrote music criticism for the leading Danish newspaper Nationaltidningen. Between 1931 and 1957, he undertook several guest tours with opera ensembles he assembled, performing in the principal cities of Denmark.

In 1940, he married the opera singer Dorothy Larsen (1911–1990). Their daughter, Mime Fønss, became a very popular actress in Denmark. His brother, Aage Fønss (1887–1976), was also a well-known bass-baritone who sang under the name Aage Fønss-Zimmermann at the Munich Court Opera.

His voice—a large, dark bass—was recorded on Danish G&T (Copenhagen, 1906), as well as on Zonophone, Polyphon, and HMV discs, and on Pathé cylinders. Electronic recordings appeared on HMV at the end of the 1920s.

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Absalon bygged en borg ved havn (Lembcke) 7-282045 13452o (sm) Gramophone, København 1916-12-14

Der var engang (Lange-Müller) Midsommervise 7-282043 13473o (sm) Gramophone, København 1916-12-15

Hvor elven nedstyrter (Malmqvist) 7-282038 13442o (sm) Gramophone, København 1916-12-14

I Danmark ligger der hus ved hus (Kjerulf) 7-282044 13451o (sm) Gramophone, København 1916-12-14

I dyben kælder (Im tiefen Keller) (Fischer) 7-282039 13441o (sm) Gramophone, København 1916-12-14

Jylland mellem tvende have (Heise) 7-282037 13453o (sm) Gramophone, København 1916-12-14

Kongernes konge (Hornemann) 7-282036 13443o (sm) Gramophone, København 1916-12-14

Nattens dæmrende taager (Mortensen) 7-282042 13470o (sm) Gramophone, København 1916-12-15

Tannhäuser (Wagner) Landgrevescenen (w. Larsen) Z141 CE1004-2 HMV, København 1923-03-21

DANISH BASS JOHANNES FØNSS (1884-1964) CDR

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HUNGARIAN CONTRALTO JEANNE FERENCZY CDR

 

JEANNE FERENCZY

 

 

 

In 1901, she appeared at the Teatro Principal in Mexico and the Teatro Tacón in Havana. In 1903, as a member of the Philomel Quartet (with soprano A. Heller, tenor Salvatore Miceli, and baritone Effim Bronstein), she performed in concert at the Auditorium of the New York Art Piano Store.

 

 

TRACKLIST

  

 

1. Carmen (Bizet) Si tu m'ames (w. De Bassini) Columbia 1247 1903

2. Favorita (Donizetti) Ah! l'alto ardor (w. De Bassini) Columbia 1526 1903

3. Favorita (Donizetti) O mio Fernando Zonophone 2556

4. János Vitéz-böl (Kacsoh) Victor 63418-A 1907

5. Kék nefelejcs Victor 63418-B 1907

6. Száll a madár (Folk Song) Victor 3852 B-4974-1 1907

7. Trovatore (Verdi) Stride la vampa Zonophone 2555

HUNGARIAN CONTRALTO JEANNE FERENCZY CDR

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