It has been a pleasure to refresh my memories of the miraculously alive sounds
of voices from the early days of recording in my Prima Voce collection. The
standard in this new compilation is enviably high, reflecting the vast collection
of mint-quality ancient 78s upon which Nimbus can draw for their unique
processing method, which is a model of discretion, with strictly limited
remastering interference. I feel very privileged to have attended their launch
at Covent Garden ten years ago, when there was a side by side demonstration
of the first few of their now over a hundred CDs alongside the originals
played on a horn gramophone, used for making the transfers.
Making this selection of 37 operatic stars must have occasioned some very
pleasurable meetings and discussions. The first of the two CDs is especially
notable for its exploration of lesser-known singers, and of arias and operas
far from the hackneyed mainstream - lots of delightful surprises. That makes
it untiring for listening to straight through. I, personally, thrill to the
quaint, archaic boxed-sound of the little accompanying orchestras recaptured
by the needle (its sound not eliminated) even before the singers enter with
unbelievable purity and presence, given the 80 to 90 years that have passed
- one is quickly so engrossed as to sweep away all thought of modern hi-fi.
My only live memory of these singers is one of Lotte Lehmann, who was still
giving master-classes at Wigmore Hall not so long before her death at nearly
90 in 1976.
I do have one regret about Nimbus's presentation, whilst realising that this
is an inexpensive re-issue compilation. Obviously the emphasis is, and always
will be, about voice per se, but I find their synopses of the individual
tracks unhelpful and rather banal - there are only so many emotional situations
for the arias upon which the changes are wrung, and it is generally obvious
whether a singer is ecstatic, furious or suicidal. The placing of each aria
in the plot does little to assist.
All operatic vocal expertise of technique and expression is based upon singing
words, and without those before us there is a tendency to listen to the singers
as if they were instrumentalists - in which case, I'd prefer to listen to
a violinist!
There is an obvious need for a book which would bring together in easily
accessible form all the standard, most frequently recorded and popular arias,
and it could be to the ultimate advantage of the rival producers of historic
vocal recordings to collaborate on that venture?
Is it not time for Nimbus to grasp the nettle and produce a comprehensive
CD-Rom which provides texts and translations of all the operatic scenes and
arias in their Prima Voce collection, together with pictures of the
singers in their roles if available?
The technology is readily available and this approach is now commonplace,
exemplified in BBC Music Magazine's excellent cover CD-Roms. Buyers will
soon begin to insist on more, and recognising this need might bring in a
whole new multitude of potential purchasers amongst music lovers who tend
to avoid this repertoire.
But don't let me put you off buying this splendid double-CD; several hours
of keen enjoyment guaranteed.
|
Disc One |
| 1 |
JOHN McCORMACK (1884-1945) |
|
LA FIGLIA DEL REGGIMENTO, Donizetti, Per viver vicino |
3.39 |
|
|
Rec: 23 March 1910 Matrix: C8739-1 Victor
Cat: 88245 |
| 2 |
ENRICO CARUSO (1873-1921) |
|
LO SCHIAVO, Gomes, Qui fortuna insistenza ... Quando nascesti
tu |
4.15 |
|
|
Rec: 19 November 1911 Matrix: C11273-2 Victor
Cat: 88345 |
| 3 |
EDMOND CLÉMENT (1867-1928) |
|
MANON, Massenet, En fermant les yeux (Dream) |
3.46 |
|
|
Rec: 6 November 1911 Matrix: C11191-1 Victor
Cat: 74258 |
| 4 |
MARIA GAY (1879-1943) |
|
CARMEN, Bizet, L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habañera) |
3.09 |
|
|
Rec: 1911 Matrix: 657 Columbia Cat: A
5279 |
| 5 |
ALMA GLUCK (1884-1938) |
|
PAGLIACCI, Leoncavallo, Quel fiamma avea nel guardo! ... Stridono
lassu (Ballatella) |
4.36 |
|
|
Rec: 16 May 1911 Matrix: C10091-3 Victor
Cat: 74238 |
| 6 |
NATALIA YERMOLENKO-YUZHINA (1881-1937) |
|
THE OPRICHNIK, Tchaikovsky, The nightingale in the grove |
3.40 |
|
|
Rec: 31 October 1911 Matrix: 2520c Gramophone
Cat: 023090 |
| 7 |
MATTIA BATTISTINI (1856-1928) |
|
L'AFRICANA, Mayerbeer, Averla tanto amata |
3.46 |
|
|
Rec: 25 May 1912 Matrix: 216 AF HMV Cat:
052359 |
| 8 |
MARGARETE MATZENAUER (1881-1963) |
|
LA FAVORITA, Donizetti, O mio Fernando |
4.29 |
|
|
Rec: 8 March 1912 Matrix: C11686-1 Victor
Cat: 88363 |
| 9 |
BERNARDO DE MURO (1881-1955) |
|
ISABEAU, Mascagni, Tu ch'odi lo mio grido |
4.22 |
|
|
Rec: 7 March 1912 Matrix: 02347V HMV Cat:
052339 |
| 10 |
ANTONINA NEZHDANOVA (1873-1950) |
|
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, Mozart, Der Hölle Rache |
3.03 |
|
|
Rec: 17 April 1912 Matrix: 2590c Gramophone
Cat: 023101 |
| 11 |
TITTA RUFFO (1877-1953) |
|
PAGLIACCI, Leoncavallo, Si puó? |
8.12 |
|
|
Rec: September 1912 Matrix: 462ai/467ai HMV
Cat: 052381/052379 |
| 12 |
ALEXANDR ALEXANDROVICH (1881-after 1955) |
|
DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER, Wagner, Mit Gewitter und Sturm |
3.33 |
|
|
Rec: 2 April 1913 Matrix: 17392b Gramophone
Cat: 4-22647 |
| 13 |
YEVGENIYA BRONSKAYA (1882-1953) |
|
A LIFE FOR THE TSAR, Glinka, I do not grieve for that |
4.20 |
|
|
Rec: 28 October 1913 Matrix: 2882c Gramophone
Cat: 023150 |
| 14 |
FRIEDA HEMPEL (1885-1955) |
|
ROBERT LE DIABLE, Meyerbeer, Robert, toi que j'aime |
4.13 |
|
|
Rec: 30 May 1913 Matrix: 720M HMV Cat:
033165 |
| 15 |
ELENA KATULSKAYA (1888-1966) |
|
MIREILLE, Gounod, O légère hirondelle |
2.28 |
|
|
Rec: 2 April 1913 Matrix: 17391b Gramophone
Cat: 2-23749 |
| 16 |
NELLIE MELBA (1861-1931) |
|
LOUISE, Charpentier, Depuis le jour |
2.53 |
|
|
Rec: 3 October 1913 Matrix: C-13900-2 Victor
Cat: 88477 |
| 17 |
TITO SCHIPA (1889-1965) |
|
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, Donizetti, Tu che a Dio spiegasti l'ali |
2.42 |
|
|
Rec: November 1913 Matrix: 2894 AH HMV Cat:
7-52123 |
| 18 |
LEV SIBIRYAKOV (1869-1942) |
|
JUDITH, Serov, Cease your grumbling |
3.29 |
|
|
Rec: 15 March 1913 Matrix: 2730c Gramophone
Cat: 022319 |
| 19 |
FRANCES ALDA (1883-1952) |
|
LA BOHÉME, Puccini, Donde lieta usci |
3.11 |
|
|
Rec: 1914 Matrix: B14497-1 Victor Cat:
unpublished |
|
Disc Two |
| 1 |
PASQUALE AMATO (1878-1942) |
|
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA, Verdi, Eri tu |
4.42 |
|
|
Rec: 23 January 1914 Matrix: C11605-3 Victor
Cat: 88464 |
| 2 |
EMMY DESTINN (1878-1930) |
|
LA GIOCONDA, Ponchielli, Suicidio |
4.02 |
|
|
Rec: 9 April 1914 Matrix: C14509-2 Victor
Cat: 88478 |
| 3 |
GIOVANNI MARTINELLI (1885-1969) |
|
TOSCA, Puccini, E lucevan le stelle |
2.31 |
|
|
Rec: 8 January 1914 Matrix: 14277-1 Victor
Cat: 64393 |
| 4 |
LUISA TETRAZZINI (1871-1940) |
|
LINDA DI CHAMOUNIX, Donizetti, O luce di quest' anima |
4.36 |
|
|
Rec: 13 May 1914 Matrix: C14817-2 Victor
Cat: 88506 |
| 5 |
LOTTE LEHMANN (1888-1976) |
|
TANNHÄUSER, Wagner, Dich teure Halle |
3.41 |
|
|
Rec: December 1916 Matrix: 1101M Polydor
Cat: 72902 |
| 6 |
MABEL GARRISON (1886-1963) |
|
LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN, Offenbach, Les oiseaux dans la charmille |
4.37 |
|
|
Rec: 6 June 1916 Matrix: C17804-1 Victor
Cat: 74482 |
| 7 |
GIUSEPPE DE LUCA (1876-1950) |
|
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, Rossini, Largo al factotum |
4.17 |
|
|
Rec: 1917 Matrix: 19163 Victor Cat: 6077 |
| 8 |
MARIA IVOGÜN (1891-1987) |
|
DIE LUSTIGEN WEIBER VON WINDSOR, Nicolai, Nun eilt' herbei |
4.44 |
|
|
Rec: 1917 Matrix: xxB 6383-2 Odeon Cat:
76811 |
| 9 |
MARCEL JOURNET (1867-1933) |
|
LA FAVORITE, Donizetti, Redoutez la fureur d'un Dieu (Anathème
de Balthazar) |
3.26 |
|
|
Rec: 30 March 1925 Matrix: A1897 Columbia
Cat: X334 |
| 10 |
RICCARDO STRACCIARI (1875-1955) |
|
RIGOLETTO, Verdi, Cortigiani, vil razza dannata |
4.02 |
|
|
Rec: c. 1917 Matrix: 2535 Columbia Cat:
49192 |
| 11 |
GERALDINE FARRAR (1882-1967) |
|
THAÏS, Massenet, Te souvient-il du lumineux voyage |
3.45 |
|
|
Rec: 2 April 1918 Matrix: C19422-7 Victor
Cat: 88594 |
| 12 |
JOSEPH SCHWARZ (1880-1926) |
|
TANNHÄUSER, Wagner, O du, mein holder Abendstern |
4.34 |
|
|
Rec: c. 1918 Matrix: 1405s Polydor Cat:
042539 |
| 13 |
AMELITA GALLI-CURCI (1882-1963) |
|
MIGNON, Thomas, Io son Titania |
4.39 |
|
|
Rec: 4 September 1919 Matrix: C23131 Victor
Cat: 74608 |
| 14 |
SELMA KURZ (1874-1933) |
|
RIGOLETTO, Verdi, Caro nome |
3.47 |
|
|
Rec: c. 1919 Matrix: 1294AS Polydor Cat:
J24013 |
| 15 |
SIGRID ONEGIN (1889-1943) |
|
SAMSON ET DALILA, Saint-Saëns, Printemps qui commence |
4.01 |
|
|
Rec: 1919 Matrix: 1469s Polydor Cat:
043323 |
| 16 |
ROSA PONSELLE (1897-1981) |
|
TOSCA, Puccini, Vissi d'arte |
3.17 |
|
|
Rec: 7 January 1919 Matrix: 49569-5 Columbia
Cat: 68059D |
| 17 |
RENATO ZANELLI (1892-1935) |
|
ZAZÁ, Leoncavallo, Zazá, piccola zingara |
2.33 |
|
|
Rec: 16 December 1919 Matrix: B23157-4 Victor
Cat: 64907 |
| 18 |
MARIA BARRIENTOS (1883-1946) |
|
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, Rossini, Una voce poco fa |
7.25 |
|
|
Rec: 19 April 1920 Matrix: 497931-2/41-2
Columbia Cat: 7070M |
|
|
|
|
Complete track
listing and artist rosta below
