MAPLESON CYLINDERS
The Mapleson
Cylinders are a group of more than 100 phonograph cylinders recorded live at
the Metropolitan Opera, primarily in the years 1901–1903, by the Met librarian
Lionel Mapleson (a nephew of impresario James Henry Mapleson). The cylinders
contain short fragments of actual operatic performances from the Italian,
German and French repertoires. Despite their variable quality of sound (some
are quite good while others are nearly inaudible), the cylinders have great
historical value thanks to the unique aural picture they document of pre-World
War I singers in performance at an opera house with a full orchestra. Other
contemporary recordings only capture singers as recorded with piano or a tiny
orchestra in a boxy commercial recording studio. The Mapleson cylinders also
feature the only recordings known to exist of a number of famous singers and
conductors who were never recorded commercially. They include legendary tenor
Jean de Reszke, soprano Milka Ternina, and conductor Luigi Mancinelli. On March
17, 1900, Lionel Mapleson, the librarian of the Metropolitan Opera House in New
York City, purchased an Edison home phonograph, which, like most cylinder
phonographs, could be used to make records as well as play them. Mapleson was
apparently enchanted with the acoustic device, and on March 21, 1900, his
friend, the cellist and occasional composer Leo Stern, presented him with a
hardware upgrade for it: Bettini recorder and reproducer units. By the end of
the month, Mapleson had persuaded the soprano Marcella Sembrich to record her
vocalization of Johann Strauss’s “Frühlingsstimmen” into it. The following
year, Mapleson came up with the idea of putting the recorder in the prompter’s
box of the Met. His first effort recorded Nellie Melba singing a scrap of music
during a performance of Massenet’s Le Cid on January 16, 1901. He recorded
several more times during performances, still utilizing the prompter’s box, but
often with unsatisfactory results. After a short cessation and with the
commencement of the 1901–1902 season, he resumed his recording activity from
the Met’s fly system. This time, he employed a huge recording horn that could
capture the sounds emanating from singers and orchestra stationed below. He was
thus able to unobtrusively record bits of many stage performances from 1901
through 1903. The morning after his recording ‘session’, he would invite the
artists involved to listen to playbacks of their performances. His recording
activity continued until the end of the 1902–1903 season. At that point Mapleson
either lost interest or was forbidden by the Met’s management from continuing
his recording activities (although a few cylinders exist of orchestral
rehearsals or concerts dating from 1904). Alerted to the cylinders’ existence
from an article in The New Yorker, William H. Seltsam, secretary (actually
head) of the International Record Collectors’ Club (IRCC), met with Mapleson a
few months before his death on December 21, 1937. Mapleson offered two
cylinders with the challenge to derive something from them. Seltsam’s
experiment met with success and after Mapleson’s death, was able to borrow 120
cylinders from his estate for the purpose of releasing them on IRCC issues.
Over the remainder of Seltsam’s lifetime, the IRCC was able to issue about 60
sides on 78-rpm records and LPs. After Mapleson’s death, a number of cylinders
were found in a junk store in Brooklyn, and were purchased by various
collectors.
TRACKLIST
The Mapleson
Cylinders – 1900-1904 Complete Edition
Label:
Rodgers And Hammerstein Archives Of Recorded Sound – R&H-100
Format: 6
x Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Mono
Country: US
Year: 1985
Genre:
Classical
Style: Opera,
Romantic
1 Carmen
(20 February 1902): Act II Finale
Composed By –
Bizet
Soprano
Vocals – Calvé
Tenor Vocals
– Salignac
2 Carmen
(1902): Voici Les Banderilleros
Chorus –
Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Composed By –
Bizet
3 La
Fille Du Régiment (30 January 1903): Duet
Composed By –
Donizetti
Soprano
Vocals – Sembrich
Tenor Vocals
– Salignac
4 La
Fille Du Régiment (30 January 1903): Rataplan
Baritone
Vocals – Gilibert
Composed By –
Donizetti
Soprano
Vocals – Sembrich, van Cauteren
5 Lucia
Di Lammermoor (2 March 1901): Verrano A Te
Composed By –
Donizetti
Soprano
Vocals – Melba
Tenor Vocals
– Saléza
6 Lucia
Di Lammermoor (18 March 1901): Mad Scene
Composed By –
Donizetti
Soprano
Vocals – Melba
7 Lucia
Di Lammermoor (2 March 1901): Mad Scene
Composed By –
Donizetti
Soprano
Vocals – Melba
8 Faust
(9 January 1903): Waltz
Chorus –
Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Composed By –
Gounod
9 Faust (28
March 1901): Jewel Song
Composed By –
Gounod
Soprano
Vocals – Melba
10 Faust
(15 February 1902): Jewel Song
Composed By –
Gounod
Soprano
Vocals – Calvé
11 Faust
(4 February 1903): Act III Finale
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke
Composed By –
Gounod
Soprano
Vocals – Adams
Tenor Vocals
– Alvarez
12 Faust
(14 February 1903): Act III Finale
Bass Vocals –
Journet
Composed By –
Gounod
Soprano
Vocals – Scheff
Tenor Vocals
– Salignac
13 Faust
(14 February 1903): Soldiers’ Chorus
Chorus –
Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Composed By –
Gounod
14 Faust
(18 February 1903): Duel Scene
Baritone
Vocals – Campanari
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke
Composed By –
Gounod
Tenor Vocals
– Alvarez
15 Faust
(4 March 1901): Act V Trio
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke
Composed By –
Gounod
Soprano
Vocals – Melba
Tenor Vocals
– Saléza
16 Faust
(28 March 1901): Act V Trio
Bass Vocals –
Plançon
Composed By –
Gounod
Soprano
Vocals – Melba
Tenor Vocals
– Saléza
17 Faust (4
February 1903): Act V Trio
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke
Composed By –
Gounod
Soprano
Vocals – Adams
Tenor Vocals
– Alvarez
18 Faust
(15 February 1902): Act V Trio
Bass Vocals –
Journet
Composed By –
Gounod
Soprano
Vocals – Calvé
Tenor Vocals
– Dippel
19 Faust
(1903): Apotheosis
Composed By –
Gounod
20 Roméo
Et Juliette (9 March 1901): Waltz
Composed By –
Gounod
Soprano
Vocals – Melba
21 I
Pagliacci (7 February 1903): A Ventitrè Ore
Baritone
Vocals – Antonio Scotti
Composed By –
Leoncavallo
Tenor Vocals
– Alvarez, Reiss
22 I
Pagliacci (7 February 1903): Bell Chorus
Chorus –
Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Composed By –
Leoncavallo
23 I
Pagliacci (30 January 1903): Act II Opening
Baritone
Vocals – Scotti
Composed By –
Leoncavallo
24 I
Pagliacci (30 January 1903): Di Qua! Di Qua!
Composed By –
Leoncavallo
25 Ero E
Leandro (March 1903): Act II
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke
Composed By –
Mancinelli
26 Ero E
Leandro (March 1903): Act III
Composed By –
Mancinelli
Soprano
Vocals – Gadski
27 Cavalleria
Rusticana (22 February 1902): Santuzza, Turiddu
Composed By –
Mascagni
Mezzo-soprano
Vocals – Bridewell
Soprano
Vocals – Calvé
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi
28 Cavalleria
Rusticana (22 February 1902): Santuzza, Turiddu Duet
Baritone
Vocals – Campanari
Composed By –
Mascagni
Soprano
Vocals – Calvé
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi
29 Cavalleria
Rusticana (22 February 1902): Brindisi
Baritone
Vocals – Campanari
Composed By –
Mascagni
Mezzo-soprano
Vocals – Bridewell
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi
30 Le
Cid (1902) O Noble Lame
Baritone
Vocals – Gilibert
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke, Journet
Composed By –
Massenet
Soprano
Vocals – Bréval, Adams
Tenor Vocals
– Alvarez
31 Le Cid (19
January 1901): O Noble Lame
Baritone
Vocals – Sizés
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke, Plançon
Composed By –
Massenet
Soprano
Vocals – Bréval, Melba
Tenor Vocals
– J. de Reszke
32 Le Cid
(1902): O Noble Lame
Baritone
Vocals – Gilibert
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke, Journet
Composed By –
Massenet
Soprano
Vocals – Bréval, Adams
Tenor Vocals
– Alvarez
33 Le Cid
(1902): O Noble Lame
Baritone
Vocals – Gilibert
Bass Vocals –
E. De Reszke, Journet
Composed By –
Massenet
Soprano
Vocals – Bréval, Adams
Tenor Vocals
– Alvarez
34 Le
Cid (16 January 1901): Alleluia
Composed By –
Massenet
Soprano
Vocals – Melba
35 L’Africaine
(15 March 1901): Ô Paradis
Composed By –
Meyerbeer
Tenor Vocals
– J. de Reszke
36 L’Africaine
(15 March 1901): Brahma! Wischnou!
Bass Vocals –
Plançon
Composed By –
Meyerbeer
37 L’Africaine
(15 March 1901): Sélika, Vasco Duet
Composed By –
Meyerbeer
Soprano
Vocals – Bréval
Tenor Vocals
– J. de Reszke
38 Les
Huguenots (1 March 1902): Queen’s Cavatina
Composed By –
Meyerbeer
Contralto
Vocals – Homer
Soprano
Vocals – Adams
39 Les
Huguenots (24 January 1903): Valentine, Marcel Duet (Act III)
Bass Vocals –
De Reszke
Composed By –
Meyerbeer
Soprano
Vocals – Gadski
40 Les
Huguenots (29 January 1902): Wedding Chorus
Baritone
Vocals – Scotti
Bass Vocals –
Journet
Composed By –
Meyerbeer
Soprano
Vocals – Seygard, Adams
41 Les
Huguenots (24 February 1902): Benediction Of The Swords
Bass Vocals –
Journet
Composed By –
Meyerbeer
42 Les
Huguenots (24 January 1903): Benediction Of The Swords
Baritone
Vocals – Mühlmann
Composed By –
Meyerbeer
43 Les
Huguenots (11 March 1901): Act IV Duet
Composed By –
Meyerbeer
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
Tenor Vocals
– J. de Reszke
44 Les
Huguenots (11 March 1901): Act IV Duet
Composed By –
Meyerbeer
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
Tenor Vocals
– J. de Reszke
45 Les
Huguenots (11 March): 1901 Act IV Duet
Composed By –
Meyerbeer
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
Tenor Vocals
– J. de Reszke
46 Die
Zauberflöte (27 January 1902): Der Hölle Rache
Composed By –
Mozart
Soprano
Vocals – Sembrich
47 Manru
(1902) Act III
Baritone
Vocals – Mühlmann
Composed By –
Paderewski
Soprano
Vocals – Scheff
Tenor Vocals
– Von Bandrowski
48 Tosca
(3 January 1903): Te Deum
Baritone
Vocals – Scotti
Composed By –
Puccini
49 Tosca
(1902): Te Deum
Baritone
Vocals – Scotti
Composed By –
Puccini
50 Tosca
(3 January 1903): Torture Scene
Baritone
Vocals – Scotti
Composed By –
Puccini
Soprano
Vocals – Eames,
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi
51 Tosca
(3 January 1903): Torture Scene
Baritone
Vocals – Scotti
Composed By –
Puccini
Soprano
Vocals – Eames
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi
52 Tosca
(3 January 1903): Vissi D’arte
Composed By –
Puccini
Soprano
Vocals – Eames
53 Tosca
(3 January 1903): Act III Finale
Baritone
Vocals – Bégué
Composed By –
Puccini
Soprano
Vocals – Eames
Tenor Vocals
– Bars
54 Tosca
(1 February 1902): Act III Finale
Bass Vocals –
Vivani
Composed By –
Puccini
Soprano
Vocals – Ternina
Tenor Vocals
– Bars
55 Aida
(31 January 1903): Ritorna Vincitor
Baritone
Vocals – Mühlmann
Bass Vocals –
Journet
Composed By –
Verdi
Mezzo-soprano
Vocals – Homer
Soprano
Vocals – Gadski
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi, Vanni
56 Aida
(31 January 1903): Temple Scene
Bass Vocals –
Journet
Composed By –
Verdi
Soprano
Vocals – Marilly
57 Aida (31
January 1903): Temple Scene
Bass Vocals –
Journet
Composed By –
Verdi
Soprano
Vocals – Marilly
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi
58 Aida (31
January 1903): Triumphal Scene
Composed By –
Verdi
59 Aida
(31 January 1903): Ma Tu, O Re
Baritone
Vocals – Mühlmann, Campanari
Bass Vocals –
Journet
Composed By –
Verdi
Mezzo-soprano
Vocals – Homer
Soprano
Vocals – Gadski
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi
60 Aida
(31 January 1903): Triumphal Scene
Baritone
Vocals – Mühlmann, Campanari
Bass Vocals –
Journet
Composed By –
Verdi
Mezzo-soprano
Vocals – Homer
Soprano
Vocals – Gadski
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi
61 Aida
(15 February 1902): Triumphal Scene
Baritone
Vocals – Mühlmann, Scotti
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke
Composed By –
Verdi
Mezzo-soprano
Vocals – Homer
Soprano
Vocals – Eames
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi
62 Ernani
(1903): O Sommo Carlo
Baritone
Vocals – Scotti, Bégué
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke
Composed By –
Verdi
Soprano
Vocals – Sembrich, Bauermeister
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi, Vanni
63 Ernani
(1903) O Sommo Carlo
Baritone
Vocals – Scotti, Bégué
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke
Composed By –
Verdi
Soprano
Vocals – Sembrich, Bauermeister
Tenor Vocals
– de Marchi, Vanni
64 La
Traviata (16 March 1901): Un di Felice
Composed By –
Verdi
Soprano
Vocals – Melba
Tenor Vocals
– Dippel
65 La
Traviata (27 February 1903): Sempre Libera
Soprano
Vocals – Sembrich
Tenor Vocals
– Dani
66 Götterdämmerung
(28 February 1903): Immolation
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
67 Götterdämmerung
(28 February 1903): Immolation
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
68 Götterdämmerung
(23 January 1903): Immolation
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
69 Lohengrin
(7 February 1903): Lohengrin’s Arrival
Soprano
Vocals – Gadski
70 Lohengrin
(7 February 1903): Lohengrin’s Question
Soprano
Vocals – Gadski
Tenor Vocals
– Anthes
71 Lohengrin
(7 February 1903): Preparation For Battle
Baritone
Vocals – van Rooy
Tenor Vocals
– Anthes
72 Lohengrin
(7 February 1903): King’s Prayer
Baritone
Vocals – van Rooy
Bass Vocals –
Blass
Tenor Vocals
– Anthes
73 Lohengrin
(7 February 1903): King’s Prayer
Bass Vocals –
Blass
74 Lohengrin
(7 February 1903): Elsa, Ortrud Duet
Soprano
Vocals – Gadski, Reuss-Belce
75 Lohengrin
(7 February 1903): Minster Scene
Baritone
Vocals – van Rooy
Soprano Vocals
– Gadski
Tenor Vocals
– Anthes
76 Lohengrin
(7 February 1903): Bridal Chorus
Chorus –
Metropolitan Opera Chorus
77 Lohengrin
(7 February 1903): Act III Scene 3
Bass Vocals –
Blass
78 Lohengrin
(29 March 1901): Bridal Chamber
Tenor Vocals
– J. de Reszke
79 Lohengrin
(29 March 1901): Act III Finale
Bass Vocals –
E. de Reszke
Tenor Vocals
– J. de Reszke
80 Die
Meistersinger Von Nürnberg (1903): Wach’ Auf!
81 Die
Meistersinger Von Nürnberg (1903): Act III Scene 2 Chorus
Chorus –
Metropolitan Opera Chorus
82 Siegfried
(19 March 1901): Forging Song
Tenor Vocals
– J. de Reszke
83 Siegfried
(19 January 1903): Hammer Song
Tenor Vocals
– Reiss, Anthes
84 Siegfried
(19 March 1901) Act I Finale
Tenor Vocals
– Hübbenet, J. de Reszke
85 Siegfried
(4 March 1902): Hammer Song
Tenor Vocals
– Reiss, Dippel
86 Siegfried
(19 January 1903): Act III Duet
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
Tenor Vocals
– Anthes
87 Tannhäuser
(17 January 1903): Shepherd Scene
Mezzo-soprano
Vocals – Bridewell
Tenor Vocals
– Gerhäuser
88 Tannhäuser
(17 January 1903) Elisabeth’s Greeting
Baritone
Vocals – Bispham
Soprano
Vocals – Gadski
Tenor Vocals
– Gerhäuser
89 Tristan
Und Isolde (13 March 1901): Act II (Excerpts)
Soprano
Vocals – Ternina
Tenor Vocals
– J. de Reszke
90 Tristan
Und Isolde (9 February 1903): Love Duet
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
Tenor Vocals
– Anthes
91 Tristan
Und Isolde (9 February 1903): Love Duet
Mezzo-soprano
Vocals – Schumann-Heink
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
Tenor Vocals
– Anthes
92 Tristan
Und Isolde (9 February 1903): Love Duet
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
Tenor Vocals
– Anthes
93 Tristan
Und Isolde (7 January 1903): Isolde’s Transfiguration
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
94 Tristan
Und Isolde (9 February 1903) Isolde’s Transfiguration
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
95 Die
Walküre (21 February 1903): Hojotoho!
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
96 Die
Walküre (16 January 1903): Hojotoho!
Baritone
Vocals – van Rooy
Mezzo-soprano
Vocals – Schumann-Heink
Soprano
Vocals – Nordica
97 Die
Walküre (21 February 1903): Ride Of The Valkyries I
98 Die
Walküre (12 February 1903): Ride Of The Valkyries II
99 Die
Walküre (16 January 1903): Ride Of The Valkyries III
100 Die
Walküre (21 February 1903): Sieglinde’s Farewell
Baritone
Vocals – Bispham
Soprano
Vocals – Gadski, Nordica
101 Die
Walküre (12 February 1903): Wotan’s Farewell
Baritone
Vocals – Bispham
102 Die
Walküre (February 1902): Magic Fire Music