Greatest Opera Singers

Greatest Opera Singers

Friday, August 30, 2013

Jean-François Delmas (Bass-Baritone) (Lyon 1861- Saint Alban de Monthel 1933)



                          with Lucienne Bréval in ''Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg''

                                             with Lucienne Bréval in ''Walkure''

 
                                                       in ''Le Roi de Paris''

First he studied in Lyonunder the pedagogue Mangin, then at the Paris Conservatory with R.Bussine and under famous bass Louis-Henri Obin. He made his debut in 1886 at the Grand Opéra of Paris as Saint-Bris in ‘’Huguenots’’ of Meyerbeer; he appeared at the Grand Opéra till 1927 and sang there more than 40 roles. He appeared in this opera house in a number of important premières. He took part at the opera house of Monte Carlo in the premieres of the operas ‘’Le of cup’’ of Eugène d'Harcourt (14. 2. 1902) and ‘’Roma’’ of  Massenet (17. 2. 1912); in 1924 he sang at the Théâtre of the Champs-Élysées, Parisin the premiere of the opera ‘’Burgraves’’ of Léon Sachs. Delmas appeared also at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels(1906 and 1909).

Chronology of some premiere appearances

1890 ParisGrand Opéra Zaïre
1891 ParisGrand Opéra Le Mage
1893 ParisGrand Opéra Walkure
1894 ParisGrand Opéra Thaïs
1895 ParisGrand Opéra Tannhäuser
1897 Paris Grand Opéra Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
1897 ParisGrand Opéra Messidor
1899 ParisGrand Opéra Joseph
1901 ParisGrand Opéra Les Barbares
1901 ParisGrand Opéra Astarte
1902 ParisGrand Opéra Pagliacci
1904 ParisGrand Opéra Le Fils d'Étoile
1905 ParisGrand Opéra Armide
1906 ParisGrand Opéra Ariane
1907 ParisGrand Opéra La Catalane
1908 ParisGrand Opéra Götterdämmerung
1908 ParisGrand Opéra Hippolyte et Aricie
1909 ParisGrand Opéra Rheingold
1909 ParisGrand Opéra Monna Vanna
1914 ParisGrand Opéra Parsifal
1921 ParisGrand Opéra Antar

RECORDINGS FOR SALE









Zonophone, Paris 1902?
Don Giovanni (Mozart) Serenade X-2025
Faust (Gounod) Le veau d'or X-2023
Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Conjuration X-2021

G&T, Paris 1902-12
Don Giovanni (Mozart) Sérénade  2-32639 1290F
Faust (Gounod) Scène de l'église  2-32624 1289F
Jolie Fille de Perth (Bizet) Quand la flamme de l'amour  2-32626 1292F
La symphonie légendaire (Godard) Prière 2-32623 1288F
Patrie (Paladilhe) Pauvre martyr obscur  2-32622 1287F
Toussaint (Lacôme) Conte bleue 2-32627 1293F
Walküre (Wagner) Les adieux de Wotan 2-32625 1291F

Pathe, Paris 1902/1903
Faust (Gounod) Scène de l'église  2496
Le cosaque (Moniuszko)  2499
Pauvres fous (Tagliafico)  2497

Fonotipia, Paris 1904/1905
Damnation de Faust (Berlioz) Voici des roses 39130 XPh555
Le Soir (Gounod) 39183 XPh518
Les deux Grenadiers (Schumann) 39053 XPh511

Odeon, Paris 1908?
Faust (Gounod) Sérénade 56177 Xph 4316
Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Gloire au Dieu vengeur (w. chorus)  56178 XP4337
Walküre (Wagner) Les adieux de Wotan 56179 XP4317















Friday, August 23, 2013

Juan Spiwak (Tenor) (Slowenien 1883 – New York 1946)


                                                              Lohengrin

He was of Jewish origin. From 1907-09 he was a member of Vienna Volksoper. Here he appeared often together with famous soprano Maria Jeritza. In 1919 he appeared at Stadttheater of Nuremberg in the premiere of the Robert Heger's opera "Ein Fest auf Haderslev" . In 1933 he left for political reasons Germany and emigrated to North America. When his active career was finished, he lived in Berlin as a pedagogue. In New Yorkhe further been active in the educational area.

Chronology of some appearances

1910-11 Dìsseldorf Opernhaus
1911-12  Olmìtz (Olomouc) Theater
1912-15 Bremen Stadttheater
1915-22 Nurnberg Stadttheater (World premiere of Ein Fest auf Haderslev by Robert Heger in 1919), where he also directed operas
1923-25 Danzig Stadttheater, as singer und director
1927-28 Berliner Komischen Oper, as singer und director

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Homokord, Berlin 1907/1908
Trovatore (Verdi) Deserto sulla terra 1056
Carmen (Bizet) Blumenarie 1060
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Cantabile 1062
Troubadour: (Verdi): Terzett with Juan  Luria and Sanden 1069
Carmen (Bizet): Eine Linie Tiefer with Juan  Luria 1070
Troubadour (Verdi): Duett with Juan  Luria 1074
Walkure (Wagner): Liebeslied 1083
Trovatore (Verdi) Miserere (w. Sanden) 1176
Trovatore (Verdi): Ai nostri monti with Gertrud Kunge 1502
Aida (Verdi): Misero appien mi festi with Margarete Leux 1531
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): No, no Turridu  with Margarete Leux 1548
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Viva il vino spumeggiante  1788

Odeon, Berlin 1908.07
Guillaume Tell (Rossini): O Mathilde (Friedrich Kark (cnd, O) with Juan Luria 99060 xB 3970
Faust (Gounod): O gib junges Blut (O) with Emil Stammer 99016 xB 3922

Pathe, Wien 1908
Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Du, du Geliebter with Maria Jeritza  38683


Johannes Sembach (Johannes Semfke) (Tenor) (Berlin 1881 - Bremerhaven 1944)



                                                                 Canio

                                                                 Canio

His real name was Johannes Semfke. Under this real name he appeared from 1900-1904 at the Berlin Apollo theatre as a baritone in operettas. Here he performed in the premieres of the operettas ‘’Lysistrata’’ and "Nakiris Hochzeit" of Paul Lincke. Then he decided to appear as an opera singer, studied in Vienna, then under Jean de Reszke in Paris. In 1904 he debuted as tenor at the Wiener Staatsoper where he remained till 1907. From 1907-13 he was engaged by the court opera of Dresden. Here he sang on 25. 1. 1909 in the premiere of the opera ‘’Elektra’’ of Richard Strauss appearing as Ägisth. On 7. 9. 1907 Sembach appeared in the premiere of "Die Schonen von Fogaras" of Alfred Grünfeld, in 1907 he sang the role of Lenski in the Dresden première of Tchaikovsky’s ‘’Eugene Onegin’’. In 1914 he made guest appearance at Covent Garden in the English première of the opera ‘’Joseph’’ of Méhul. In 1914 he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York. There his first role was Parsifal and he had success in operas of Wagner, especially as Siegmund and Siegfried. The criticism compared him to the famous Jean de Reszke. Till 1917 and then again in the 1920-22 seasons he appeared at the Metropolitan Opera. Here he also appeared on 8. 3. 1917 in the premiere of the opera "The Canterbury Pilgrims"  of Reginald De Koven. In 1925 he sat down as a pedagogue in Berlin. In 1927 he made guest appearance again at the opera house of Dresden. In 1930-31 season he took part in the USAtour as a member of German Opera. In 1932 he appeared in broadcastings of the German broadcasting company.

Chronology of some appearances

1907 Dresdencourt opera Eugene Onegin (Lensky)
1909 Dresdencourt opera Elektra (Ägisth)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








G&T, Berlin 1903-04/05
Cavalleria  Rusticana (Mascagni): Vivo il vino 3-42959 3904r
Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Plus blanche 3-42968 3905r
Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida 3-42969 3906r
Martha (Flotow): Ach, so fromm  3-42960 3907r
Faust (Gounod): Sei mir gegrüsst (Cavatine)  042151 337s
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Jetzt spielen  042152 338s

Lyrophon, Wien 1907-03?
Rigoletto (Verdi): O wie so trügerisch W7224 7224OE
Dame Blanche (Boieldieu): Komm, o holde Dame  W7226 7226OE

Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-02
Trovatore (Verdi): Di quella pira 4-42300 1746ab
Rigoletto (Verdi): Freundlich blick' ich  4-42302 1745½ab
Tiefland (d'Albert): Schau' her   042231 252ac
Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Morgenlich leuchtend  042233 254ac
Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky): Kuda, kuda  042234 255ac

Gramophone, Dresden 1909-10
Der fliegende Holländer (Wagner): Mit Gewitter und Sturm  4-42371 10169L
Bohème (Puccini): Che gelida manina   042237  443m

Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-15
Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Willst du nun endlich mir sagen (w. Nast) 044145 268ac
Madama Butterfly (Puccini): 's ist schon was Wahres dran (w. Nast) 044146 269ac
Bohème (Puccini): Wo ich selig vom Glück (w. Nast) 044150 270ac

Gramophone, Berlin 1909-12-17
Lohengrin (Wagner): Nun sei bedankt, mein lieber Schwan  4-42372 2006ab

Columbia, New York 1916-04?
Röslein rot (trad) (w. Bloch, Goritz & Braun)  E3515 43950

Columbia, New York 1916-04-24
Walkure (Wagner): Siegmunds Liebeslied  A5835  48726
Freischütz (Weber): Durch die Wälder A5842 48727

Columbia, New York 1916-04-25
Siegfried (Wagner): Nothung, Nothung  A5842 48729
Lohengrin (Wagner): Mein lieber Schwan  A5889 48730
Lohengrin (Wagner): In fernem Land A5835 48731

Vox, Berlin 1921-10/11
Martha (Flotow): Ach, so fromm 03014 41A
Zauberflöte (Mozart): Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön 03014 42A
Walküre (Wagner): Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond  03015 43A
Lohengrin (Wagner): In fernem Land 03016 44A
Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner): Am stillen Herd  03015 46A
Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner): Morgenlich leuchtend  03016 47A

Clangor, Berlin 1933/1934
Fidelio (Beethoven): Gott, welch Dunkel hier! MD9619


Leonid Sobinov (Tenor) (Yaroslavl, Russia 1872 – Riga, Latvia 1934)


                                                                  Faust

                                                               Lohengrin

                                                                   Nadir

He was born in Jaroslavl in 1872, a town about 170 miles north-east of Moscow. His father was a sales representative in flour. His son did very well academically. Interest in music was satisfied by playing the guitar and singing in a local choir. After leaving school he enrolled in Moscow on a course leading to a degree in law. He completed the course in 1894, but by this time he made considerable expererience in a student choir. This included some appearances as its soloist. Nevertheless, his singing did not prevent his academic abilities. He obtained a law degree. After university came military service, compulsory at that time in Russia, and then he began to practice law. He studied with a tenor (Professor Dodonov) but he felt that this teacher was not suceeding in helping over certain problems. He took additional lessons from Alexandra Santagano Gorchakova. Sobinov still the law as his career. His teacher had other ideas and she made him go for an audition at the Bolshoi Theatre. This was in 1897 and brought him a two year contract! He soon was admired for his breath control, mezza-voce and enunciation. He appeared in operas such as Ruslan and Ludmila, Faust, Manon, Prince Igor, Eugene Onegin, Halka, Rigoletto, Tannhäuser (Walter von der Vogelweide) and in Ivanov’s Zabava Putyatishna. Sobinov was very much impressed by Feodor Chaliapin who was two years younger than him. They sang together in an opera in 1899. In the same year he added Andrej (Mazeppa), Gérald (Lakmé) and Germont to his repertoire. After going through the score of Don José he declined taxing the role too dramatic for his voice. The reigning star at the Bolshoi was Nikolai Figner but Sobinov was his equal in every way. To enlarge his repertoire (he added the tenor roles in Martha, Werther, Mignon and Roméo et Juliette) he decided to make several journeys to Italy to hear more of the Italian school. At the end of 1903 he sang an acclaimed Nadir in Les Pêcheurs des Perles opposite the great Antonina Nezhdanova . In 1904 he made his debut at La Scala as Ernesto (in Italian) receiving great praise from the critics. After a short time as a reservist in the army (Russian-Japanese war in 1905) he first appeared in Manon and Fra Diavolo. At the end of 1906 he sang in Monte Carlo. Lohengrin and Werther were the next roles. He appeared with triumphant success in Madrid and Berlin. His first Lohengrin at the Bolshoi was enthusiastically received, while in St Petersburg the critics compared him to the superb Ivan Ershov. Singing in Londonand Paris in 1909 he added Levko in Rimsky-Korsakov’s May Night and changed the role of Bayan to Finn in Ruslan and Ludmila. After many years of travelling he became a producer (1911). In 1912 he once more appeared at la Scala opposite Lucrezia Bori in Roméo et Juliette, conducted by Tullio Serafin. In the months before the outbreak of Worldwar I Sobinov appeared in a new role, Cavaradossi. Conscripted for military service again in 1914 his contract with the Imperial Opera lapsed. He was charged with organizing concerts for the wounded and for charity. The Revolution gave him a second chance of moving into management. Unlike other Russian artists like Chaliapin, Kuznetsova, Medtner, Rachmaninov and Davidov he elected to stay. When the Red Army gained control, he was given an administrative cultural post in Sevastopol. His last appearance in a concert was in 1921. In the same year he was appointed Director of the Bolshoi but after a view months he resigned to return to a life of opera and concerts. He died of a heart attack in 1934. He was decorated many times: Imperial Court Singer (1910), People’s Artist of the Union of Soviet Republics (1923), Officer of the Red Army (1925) and the Red Labour Banner (1933).

Chronology of some appearances

Demon (Sinodal)-Moscow, Bolshoi, 24 April 1897
Ruslan and Ludmila (Bayan)-Moscow, Bolshoi, 4 September 1897
Prince Igor (Vladimir) -Moscow, Bolshoi, 19 January 1898
Yevgeny Onyegin-Moscow, Bolshoi, 13 April 1898
Faust-Moscow, Bolshoi, 16 April 1898
Tannhäuser (Walter) -Moscow, Bolshoi, 4 September 1898
Halka (Yontek)-Moscow, Novi Teatr, 6 September 1898
Pyesn Torzhetvuyuschey Lyubvi (Fabiy)-Moscow, Bolshoi, 26 October 1898
Rigoletto-Moscow, NoviTeatr, 8 November 1898
Zabava Putyatishna (Solovyey)-Moscow, Novi Teatr, 3 January 1899
Ribaki (Yannik) -Moscow, Bolshoi, 23 February 1899
Rusalka (Prince)-Odessa, Gorodskoy Teatr, 7 June 1899
Mazepa (Andrey)-Moscow, Bolshoi, 9 September 1899
Lakmé-Moscow, Bolshoi, 9 November 1899
La Traviata-Moscow, NoviTeatr, 14 November 1899
Le Cheval de Bronze (Yang)-Moscow, Novi Teatr, 30 January 1900
Yudif (Judith) (Vagoa)-Moscow, Bolshoi, 10 February 1900
Printsyessa Gryeza (Ruydel)-Moscow, Novi Teatr, 1 October 1900
Snegurochka (Berende) -Moscow, Bolshoi, 19 December 1900
Andzhelo (Angelo) (Gondolyer) -Moscow, Bolshoi, 4 January 1901
Boris Godunov (Dimitri) -Moscow, Bolshoi, 13 April 1901
Sin Mandarina (The Mandarin’s son) (Muri)-Moscow, Novi Teatr, 11 November 1901
 Roméo et Juliette-Moscow, Bolshoi, 25 October 1902
Mefistofele-Moscow, Bolshoi, 3 December 1902
Mignon-Moscow, Conservatoire, 19 March 1903
Les Pêcheurs de Perles-Moscow, Novi Teatr, 3 December 1903
Marta-Moscow, Conservatoire, 16 February 1904
Werther-Moscow, Conservatoire, 12 March 1904
Don Pasquale-Milano, Scala, 21 (western calendar) December 1904
Fra Diavolo-St. Petersburg, Novi Letny Teatr, 13 November 1905
Manon-Milano, Scala, 11 (western calendar)April 1906
Lohengrin-Moscow, Bolshoi, 10 December 1908
Mayskaya Noch (Levko) -Moscow, Bolshoi, 6 October 1909
Ruslan and Ludmila (Finn) -Moscow, Bolshoi, 18 November 1909
Kavkazskiy Plennik (The Captive in the Caucasus) (Plennik/Captive) -Moscow, Bolshoi, 16 December 1909
La Bohème-Moscow, Bolshoi, 19 January 1911
Orfeo ed Euridice-St. Petersburg, Maryinski, 21 December 1911
Dubrovsky (Vladimir) -Moscow, Bolshoi, 27 November 1913
Tosca-St. Petersburg, Teatr A. S. Suvorina, 24 February 1914

RECORDINGS FOR SALE







G&T, St. Petersburg1901 (early)
Rusalka (Dargomizhsky): Unwillingly to these sad shores 22259 2655A
Angelo (Cui): I live only for you (Song of Rodolfo) 22260 2656A
Prince Igor (Borodin): Daylight slowly fades 22333 2660A
May Night (Rimsky-Korsakov): Sleep my beauty 22524 269b
Halka (Moniuszko): The wind howls among the hills 22276 2663A
Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky): Whither, whither have you gone 22274 2664A
Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky): I love you Olga 22262 2668A

G&T, St. Petersburg 1901-06?
Rusalka (Dargomizhsky):  Unwillingly to these sad shores 22519 263b
Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile 22495 266b
Dobrinya Nikitich(Gretchaninov): Blossoming in flowery fields 22532 268b
Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky): Whither, whither have you gone 22523 270b
Behind the window in the shadow (Tchaikovsky); I do not know how to dispel my melancholy (Nikolaev) 22533 271b
Ou voulez-vous aller.(Barcarolle) (Gounod) 22528 272b
Zabava Putiatishna (Ivanov): All quietly in your garden 22502 273b
Snow Maiden (Rimsky-Korsakov): Mighty nature is full of wonders 22500 274b

G&T, St. Petersburg1904
Martha (Flotow): Ach so fromm 2-22650 1976L
Resting here is pleasant (Nikolaev) 2-22658 1994L
Faust (Gounod): Salut demeure 022078 195m

Gramophone, Moscow 1910-01-23/02-05
Lohengrin (Wagner): Mein lieber Schwan 022137 1979c
Werther (Massenet): Pourquoi me réveiller 022138 1980c
Manon (Massenet): En fermant les yeux 022139 1981c
Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): Je crois entendre encore Unpubl. 1982c

Gramophone, St. Petersburg 1911-02-14/02-27
Mignon (Thomas): Elle ne croyait pas 022198 2214c
Snow Maiden (Rimsky-Korsakov): The joyous day departs 022199 2216c
Raphael (Arensky): My heart trembles 022200 2217c



Giulietta Wermez (Soprano)



She made her debut around 1890. She had a successful career and during her stage career she made many guest appearances also abroad (St. Petersburg, Bucharest, Vilna, Minsk). She made records for Disco Zonofono and Pathe. Here recordings are extremely rare.

Chronology of some appearances

1895 Barcellona  Teatro Tivoli Rigoletto (Gilda)
1899 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos  Puritani (Elvira)
1899 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Carmen (Micaela)
1899 Genova  Politeama Genovese Mignon (Mignon)
1900 Genova  Politeama Genovese Carmen (Micaela)
1900  Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Carmen (Micaela)
1900  Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos  Puritani (Elvira)
1900 Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Rigoletto (Gilda)
1900  Lisbona  Coliseo Recrejos Traviata (Violetta)
1900  Bologna Teatro Duse Puritani (Elvira)
1900 Trieste  Teatro Verdi Puritani (Elvira)
1901 St. Petersburg Opera House Puritani (Elvira)
1901 Roma  Teatro Costanzi Rigoletto (Gilda)
1901 Rimini  Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Rigoletto (Gilda)
1902 Vienna  Un der Wien Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1902  Vienna  Teatro Un der Wien Puritani (Elvira)
1902  Roma  Teatro Costanzi Puritani (Elvira)
1902  Firenze  Teatro Verdi Puritani (Elvira)
1902  Modena  Teatro Municipale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1903 Catania  Politeama Pacini Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1903 Catania  Teatro Bellini Puritani (Elvira)
1903 Bucarest  Teatro Nazionale Puritani (Elvira)
1903 Bucarest  Teatro Nazionale Rigoletto (Gilda)
1904 Catania  Teatro Sangiorgi Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1904 Bologna  Teatro del Corso Linda di Chamonix (Linda)
1904 Venezia  Teatro Rossini Pagliacci (Nedda)
1904 Roma  Teatro Adriano Puritani (Elvira)
1904 Milano  Teatro La Scala Rigoletto (Gilda)
1905 Roma  Teatro Quirino Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1905 Roma  Teatro Adriano Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1905 Roma  Teatro Quirino Cavalleria rusticana (Santuzza)
1906 Roma  Teatro Quirino Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1906 Brescia Teatro Sociale Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1906 Reggio Emilia  Politeama Ariosto Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1906 Cadice  Teatro Municipal Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1906 Cadice  Teatro Municipal Pescatori di perle (Leila)
1906 Lodz  Teatro Apollo Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina)
1906 Lodz  Teatro Apollo Rigoletto (Gilda)
1906 Il Cairo  Teatro Abbas Rigoletto (Gilda)
1906 Alessandria d'Egitto  Teatro Alhambra Rigoletto (Gilda)
1906  Kaunas Teatro Imperiale Rigoletto (Gilda)
1906 Minsk  Teatro Nazionale Rigoletto (Gilda)
1906 Vilna  Grand Theatre Rigoletto (Gilda)
1907 Roma  Teatro Quirino Ballo in maschera (Ulrica)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Pathé - AICC cylinders & discs, Milano 1903?
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Una voce poco fa  84014

Zonophone, Milano 1903?
Sonnambula (Bellini): Ah non credea mirarti X-1596


Thursday, August 22, 2013

Maximilian Maksakov (Baritone) (M. A. Maks) (Chernivtsi, Bukovina 1869 – Moscow 1936)


                                                                  Jago

                                                       Merchant Kalashnikov

His real name was Max Schwarz. He studied singing with C. Everardi in St. Petersburg, then with A. Buzzi in Milan. Additionally he studied vocal art under K. Ryadnov in Tbilisi. He made his debut in 1889 in  Rostov-Na-Donu as Demon in A. Rubinstein’s opera ‘’Demon’’. From 1889 to 1897 and in 1900 Maksakov appeared at the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre. From 1889 to 1897  he sang also at Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. He made guest appearances in Kazan (1894, 1897/1898), Moscow (Bolshoi Theatre 1895, Aquarium Theatre 1905-1907), St. Petersburg ( 1898-99, 1901; 1902), Saratov, Nizhny Novgorod (1906), Kharkov (1907), Odessa (1908/1909, 1924), Kiev (1909), Vienna (1911), Astrakhan (1920-1923) and Tbilisi (1929). He was a diminutive man with a dramatic voice, which was said to lack charm and flexibility. Like other Russian singers of his era, he became an impresario with visions of reforming opera. Ultimately, his efforts proved futile and after suffering financial loss he returned to the standard repertory. His recordings are extremely rare.

 Chronology of appearance

1889 Rostov-Na-Donu Opera House Demon (Demon) Debut
1897 Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre Aleko (Aleko) Creator in this opera house
1897 Kazan Opera House Tannh¤user (Wolfram) Creator in this opera house
1908/1909 Odessa Opera House Thais (Atanael) Creator in this opera house

RECORDINGS FOR SALE









Berliner, St Petersburg 1901-03
Queen of Spades (Tchaikovsky): If only darling  maidens 22284 2649G
Don Juan's Serenade (Napravnik) 22283 2650G
Prince Igor (Borodin): Oh, give me freedom 22282  2651G
Traviata (Verdi): Di Provenza il mar 22278 2652G

G&T, Moscow 1902-01
Faust (Gounod): Il etait temps 22871 543x
Demon (Rubinstein): Accursed world 22872 544x

G&T, St Petersburg 1903
Again with you, Gipsy song  2-22543 1276z

Gramophone, Moscow 1909-01
Iolanta (Tchaikovsky): Who can be compared with my Matilda 3-22942 8400½L
Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky): Alas, there is no doubt 3-22888 8401L
Mazeppa (Tchaikovsky): Three treasures 3-22943 8402L
Maccabeus (Rubinstein): What orders, Lord, do you give your slave? 3-22911 8403L


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Alois Pennarini (tenor) (Vienna 1870 - Liberec, Czechoslovakia 1927)





His real name was Aloys Federler. He studied singing under Joseph Gänsbacher and Johannes Ress in Vienna. Pennarini made his debut in 1893 at the municipal theatre of Bratislava as Turiddu in ‘’Cavalleria rusticana’’. Then in the 1895-96 season he sang at the municipal theatre of Olmütz (Olomouc), from 1896-97 at the municipal theatre of Elberfeld, from 1898-1900 he was engaged by the municipal theatre of Graz, where he appeared in Wagner’s operas. Since 1900 he was a principal tenor of the municipal theatre of Hamburg, where he appeared till 1913 with great success. He appeared in Hamburgin the premiere of Siegfried Wagner’s operas "Der Kobold" (29. 1. 1904) and "Bruder Lustig" (13. 10. 1905). Pennarini aslo sang there in the premiere of the opera ‘’Tragaldabas’’ of Eugene d'Albert (3. 12. 1907) and in the german premières of the operas "Le Jongleur de Notre Dame" of Massenet (1902 as Jean) and ‘’Adriana Lecouvreur’’ of F. Cilea  (1902 as Maurizio). He guested in 1900 and 1903 at the Vienna Court Opera, since 1900 till 1912 he performed at the Berlin Court Opera. Since 1900 he often appeared aslo at the court opera of Munich like at the court theatre of Stuttgart. In 1908 he guested at the Dresdencourt opera. In 1904 he sang with the Savage Opera Company in North America. He made guest performances at the Covent Garden in London, in Amsterdamand Hague. From 1913 to 1920 he was a manager of the Nuremberg municipal theatre, where he still appeared as a singer. In 1920 he became a manager of the municipal theatre of Reichenberg. He was married to the soprano Ella Appelt. Pennarini appeared also in several movies.

Chronology of some appearances

1893 Bratislava municipal theatre Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1902 Hamburg municipal theatre Le Jongleur de Notre Dame (Jean)
1902 Hamburgmunicipal theatre Adriana Lecouvreur (Maurizio)


RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Odeon, Berlin 1906-07 (late)
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Jetzt spielen 50119

Odeon, Berlin 1906-11?
Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner): Preisleid 50177 xB1759
Lohengrin (Wagner): Atmest du nicht 50208 xB1789

Odeon, Berlin 1907-05
Evangelimann (Kienzl): Selig sind, die Verfolgung leiden50318 xB2643


Monday, August 19, 2013

Vittorio Re (Tenor) (Tortona Isola Sant'Antonio 1891 - Tortona 1984)





Probably he made his debut in 1912. During his career Re made also appearances abroad (Buenos Ayres. Teatro Marconi).

Chronology of some appearances

1913 Castelfiorentino   Teatro Del Popolo  Rigoletto (Duca)
1915 Vicenza   Teatro Eretenio Carmen (Don Jos¨)
1917 Padova Teatro Garibaldi Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1919 Torino Politeama Chiarella  Pagliacci (Canio)
1922 Udine Teatro Sociale Tosca (Cavaradossi)
1924 Buenos Ayres Teatro Coliseo Boheme (Rodolfo)
1926 Cesena Teatro Comunale Fedora (Loris)
1928 Valenza Po Teatro Sociale Tosca (Cavaradossi)


RECORDING FOR SALE








Fonotipia, Milano 1922-03-27
Andrea Chenier (Giordano): Come un bel di di maggio 152510 Xph5271


Saturday, August 17, 2013

Alessandro Dolci (Tenor) (Bergamo 1888 (1890?) – Bergamo 1954)



                                                                Pollione

He studied singing under V. Baccanelli in Bergamo and with D. Lari in Milan. Probably he made his debut in 1912. In the 1914-15 season Dolci made guest appearances at the Teatro Fenice in Venice. In 1915 he was heard at the Teatro Comunale of Bolognaas Amenofi in ‘’Mosè in Egitto’’ of Rossini. In this opera house he also appeared in 1918 as Radames in ‘’Aida’’, in 1927 as Dimitri in ‘’Boris Godunov’’ and as Herodes in ‘’Salome’’ of  R. Strauss. In 1916 he appeared at La Scala singing the role of Radames in ‘’Aida’’. In 1918 he once more appeared at La Scala as Elisero in ‘’Mosè in Egitto’’ of Rossini. From 1923-32 he was to be found regularly at La Scala, where he also appeared in the premiere of the opera ‘’Debora e of Jaele’’ of I. Pizzetti (16. 12. 1922 under the direction of A. Toscanini) and in 1926 in the Italian première of Mussorgsky’s ‘’Khovantchina’’. In the 1918-19 season he was engaged by the Chicago Opera . In the 1919-20 season he sang at the Lexington Theatre of New York in ‘’Loreley’’. In 1919 he appeared at Covent Garden in London. In 1920 he sang at Arena di Verona in Verdi’s ‘’Aida’’. In 1918 (première of Puccini’s ‘’La Rondine’’), 1930 (‘’Debora e Jaele’’) and in 1938 (Italian première ‘’Macbeth’’ of E. Bloch) he guested at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. In 1936 he sang at the Teatro Carlo Felice of Genoain the premiere of Gian Francesco Malipiero's opera ‘’Giulio Cesare’’. In 1925 he appeared at the Teatro Regio of Turin in the Italian première of Richard Strauss’s ‘’Ariadne auf Naxos’’ appearing as Bacchus. In 1931 he sang at the Teatro Comunale in Florence the  role of Pollione in ‘’Norma’’, in 1933 the Ismaele in ‘’Nabucco’’ and the Licinio in ‘’La Vestale’’ of Spontini (which he also sang in 1933 in the Maggio musicale Florence opposite Rose Ponselle). Later he worked as a  pedagogue in Bergamo.

Chronology of some appearances

1913 Casale Monferrato  Teatro Sociale Loreley (Walter)
1914 Pescara  Politeama Michetti Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1914 Montagnana  Teatro Sociale Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1915  Padova  Teatro Verdi Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)
1915  Roma  Teatro Quirino Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1915  Bergamo  Teatro Donizetti Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1915  Genova  Politeama Genovese Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)
1915 Genova  Politeama Genovese Gioconda (Enzo)
1915  Venezia  Teatro La Fenice Gioconda (Enzo)
1915  Firenze  Teatro Della Pergola Gioconda (Enzo)
1916 Palermo  Teatro Massimo Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)
1916 Rio de Janeiro  Teatro Lirico Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1916 San Paulo  Teatro San Jos¨ Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1916 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Coliseo Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1917  Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1917 Torino  Politeama Chiarella Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1917 San Pellegrino Terme  Kursaal Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)
1917 Bergamo  Teatro Donizetti Loreley (Walter)
1917 Bari  Teatro Petruzzelli Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1918 Roma  Teatro Costanzi Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1918 Chicago  Civic Opera House Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1918 Chicago  Civic Opera House Gioconda (Enzo)
1919  Citta  delMessico  Teatro Esperanza Iris Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1919 Citta  del Messico  Teatro Esperanza Iris Barbiere di Siviglia
(Almaviva)
1919 Citta  del Messico  Teatro Esperanza Iris Norma (Pollion)
1919  Londra  Covent Garden Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1919  Londra  Covent Garden Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1919  Chicago  Civic Opera House Loreley (Walter)
1919  Chicago  Civic Opera House Norma (Pollion)
1919  New York  Teatro Lexington Loreley (Walter)
1919 Bergamo  Teatro Donizetti Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)
1920 Bergamo  Teatro Donizetti Loreley (Walter)
1920 Ravenna  Teatro Alighieri Fanciulla del West (Dick Johnson)
1920 Trieste  Politeama Rossetti Norma (Pollion)
1920 Boston  Opera House Gioconda (Enzo)
1921 Venezia  Teatro La Fenice Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1921 Roma  Teatro Adriano Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)
1922  Bergamo  Teatro delle Societ  Gioconda (Enzo)
1931  Firenze  Teatro Della Pergola Norma (Pollion)
1932  Roma  Teatro dell'Opera Norma (Pollion)
1934 Bergamo  Teatro Nuovo Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1936 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Andrea Chenier (Chenier)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Fonotipia, Milano 1914-03-01
Parisina (Mascagni):  Commessa fu la mia colpa with Francisca Solari 69143XPh5056  
Parisina (Mascagni):  E disse in cuore Isotta with Francisca Solari 69144 XPh5057

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-18
Parisina (Mascagni):  Or voi composto m'avereste nella bara with Francesca Solari 69138  XPh5044            
Parisina (Mascagni):  Vittoria! Sia laudata la Regina del cielo! with Francisca Solari  69137  XPh5045        
Parisina (Mascagni):  Se pietа ho di voi with Francesca Solari  69140 XPh5046
Parisina (Mascagni):  Le grida e il clamore with Francesca Solari  69141 XPh5047

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-26
Parisina (Mascagni):  Vogliate qui sedere with Francisca Solari  69139 XPh5063      

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-21
Parisina (Mascagni):  Stanno in mucchio fra i lauri with Francesca Solari 69142 XPh5048
Parisina (Mascagni):  Ah, serra ancora with Francisca Solari  74182  XPh5049       

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-22
Parisina (Mascagni):  Merce, Maria! Merce, Vergine santa! with Francisca Solari 74181 XXPh5052       

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-23
Parisina (Mascagni):  O tristo, tristo with Laura Del Lungo  69131  XPh5053

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-24
Parisina (Mascagni):  Hai tu veduto a dentro with Francesca Solari  69148XPh5058
Parisina (Mascagni):  Ah com'e bella with Francesca Solari  69147 XPh5057           

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-25
Parisina (Mascagni):  Giungesti in punto with Laura Del Lungo 74180 XPh5060

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-26
Parisina (Mascagni):  Meglio campar la vita in arme 69133 XPh5061     

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-29
Parisina (Mascagni):  O fiore di mia vita with Laura Del Lungo 74179 XXPh5059