Francisca Solari (Soprano) (Genova 1881 – Civitanova Marche 1969)

She was a sister of the soprano Sarah Fidelia Solari. She made her debut in 1905 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome in the title role of P. Mascagni’s opera ‘’Amica’’. In 1913 she appeared there in G. Puccini’s ‘’Tosca’’. The same year she also sang at the Teatro Goldoni in Livorno in P. Mascagni's ''Isabeau''. In 1914 she sang at the Teatro Alla Scala in Milano in E. Wolf-Ferrari’s ‘’Le donne curiose’’. In 1916 she sang at the Teatro Politeama in Genova in P. Mascagni's ''Parisina''. She retired from the stage in 1920's.

Chronology of some appearances

1905 Rome Teatro Costanzi Amica (Amica)

1913 Rome Teatro Costanzi Tosca (Tosca)

1913 Livorno Teatro Goldoni Isabeau (Isabeau)

1914 Milano Teatro Alla Scala Le donne curiose (-)

1916 Genova Teatro Politeama Parisina (Parisina)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Fonotipia, Milano 1912-12-12

Isabeau (Mascagni): Dormivi? Sognavo? with Carlo Ballin 92970 Xph4866

Isabeau (Mascagni): Gia per terre e castella with Antonio Armentano  Anticorona 92959  xph4875   

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-18

Parisina  (Mascagni): Vittoria! vittoria! with Alessandro Dolci 69137 xph5045           

Parisina  (Mascagni): Or voi composto m'avereste nella bara with Alessandro Dolci 69138

Parisina  (Mascagni): Se pietа ho di voi with Alessandro Dolci 69140 xph5046

Parisina  (Mascagni): Le grida e il clamore with Alessandro Dolci 6941 xph5047       

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-21

Parisina (Mascagni): Stanno in mucchio tra i lauri with Alessandro Dolci 69142 XPh5048

Parisina  (Mascagni):  Ah, serra ancora with Alessandro Dolci 74182 Xph5049         

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-22

Parisina  (Mascagni): Merce, Maria! Merce with Alessandro Dolci 74181 xxph5052

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-24

Parisina (Mascagni): E disse in cuore Isotta 69144 XPh5055

Parisina (Mascagni): Commessa fu la mia colpa 69143 XPh5056

Parisina  (Mascagni): Hai tu veduto a dentro with Alessandro Dolci 69147 xPh 5058 

Parisina  (Mascagni): Ah com'è bella with Alessandro Dolci 69148 xPh 5057

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-26

Parisina  (Mascagni): Ecco la rete dei miei capelli 69135 xPh 5062     

Parisina  (Mascagni): Vogliate qui sedere with Alessandro Dolci 69139 xph5063          

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-27

Parisina  (Mascagni): Ave Maria, gratia plena with Laura Del Lungo and Ida Rappini 69136 xph5064

Augustin Nuibo (Tenor) (Marsiglia 1874 - Nizza 1948)

He studied at the conservatoire of Marseille under Boudouresque, then in Parisunder the famous tenor Victor Capoul. He made his debut at the Grand Opéra of Paris in 1900 as Fischer in G. Rossini’s ‘’Wilhelm Tell’’. Till 1908 he appeared at the Grand Opéra, where in 1907 sang in the premiere of the opera ‘’La Catalane’’ of  Fernand Le Borne. In the 1904-05 season he was a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York(beginning role: Turiddu in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’), afterwards North America tour. By request of the manager of the Metropolitan opera he changed his name and performed as Francisco Nuibo. He performed at the Metropolitan Opera with success also in Sunday Night Concerts. In 1908 he joined to the Opéra-Comique of  Paris and sang later at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris. In 1913 he appeared at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées of Parisin the opera ‘’Les trois masques’’ of Isidore de Lara. He made guest appearances at the Covent Garden in London, Lisbon, MexicoCity, San Francisco and Havana. He also had a significant career at the famous French provincial theatres. In 1923 he founded a conservatoire in the Paris Montmartre.

Chronology of some appearances

1900-1908 Paris Grand Opéra 

1904-1905 New York Metropolitan Opera

1908 Paris Opéra-Comique

1913 Paris Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903?
Le crédo d'amour (Luigini) 0371

Columbia cylinders, New York 1905
Carmen (Bizet): Romance de la fleur 32716

Columbia, New York 1905
Martha (Flotow): Air des larmes 3127
Carmen (Bizet): Romance de la fleur 3128
Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Ah! lève-toi soleil 3129

Pathé, Paris 1906/1907
Manon (Massenet): Le rêve 4578

Antonio Sabellico (Bass) (Campo Morto/Nettuno (oggi Campo Verde/Aprilia) 1858 - Roma 1934)

                                                Contratto Teatro di Torino 1915

He studied singing under the pedagogue Parisotto and made his debut around 1880 in ‘’Forza del Destino’’ at Rome.

Chronology of some appearances

1887    Roma   Teatro Argentina Dannazione di Faust (Brander)

1890    MessinaTeatro Vittorio Emanuele Ugonotti (Saint-Bris)                                

1893    Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Lohengrin (Re Enrico)

1896    CagliariTeatro Civico Roberto il Diavolo (Bertramo)

1900    PiacenzaTeatro Municipale  Lohengrin (Re Enrico)

1903    Bucarest Teatro Nazionale Puritani (Giorgio)

1906    PiacenzaTeatro Municipale  Mefistofele (Mefistofele)

1908    CairoTeatro Abbas Aida (Ramfis)

1913    Firenze Politeama Nazionale Ernani (Silva)

1915    Casale Monferrato Politeama  Favorita (Baldassarre)

1918    Siena Teatro Dei Rinnovati  Barbiere di Siviglia (Don Basilio)

1922    Savona Teatro Chiabrera Barbiere di Siviglia (Don Basilio)

1924    AstiTeatro Alfieri Boheme (Colline)

1926    TrapaniTeatro Garibaldi Gioconda (Alvise)
1927    BolognaTeatro Del Corso Tosca (Angelotti)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Pathé - AICC cylinders & discs, Milano 1903?

Faust (Gounod): Dio dell'or 84083, 10204

Favorita (Donizetti): Splendon più belle (w. chorus) 84084

Sonnambula (Bellini): Vi ravviso (w. chorus) 84089

Mosè (Rossini): Dal tuo stellato soglio 84090

Zonophone, Milano 1904-12

Favorita (Donizetti): Splendon più belle (w. chorus) X-92018

Bohème (Puccini): Vecchia zimarra 92039

Adele Ponzano (Mezzo-Soprano)

She studied in Turin under Annetta Casaloni, the first interpreter of Maddalena in ''Rigoletto''. She made her debut in 1902 at the Teatro Politeama of Saluzzo in ''Frà Diavolo''.

Chronology of some appearances

1898 Saluzzo Politeama  Fra' Diavolo (Pamela)

1903 Alessandria d'Egitto Teatro Zizinia Carmen (Mercedes)            

1907 Milano Teatro La Scala  Wally (Afra)

1910 Ravenna  Teatro Alighieri Walkiria (Fricka)

1913 Venezia   Teatro La Fenice Otello (Emilia)

1913 Venezia   Teatro La Fenice Otello (Emilia)

1916 Milano  Teatro Dal Verme Forza del Destino (Preziosilla)

1919 Cremona  Politeama Verdi  Trovatore (Azucena)

1923 Cesena Teatro Comunale Gioconda (Laura)

1927 Palermo  Teatro Biondo Gioconda (Laura)

1928 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice  Matrimonio Segreto (Fidalma)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon Fonotipia, Milano
Barbieri di Siviglia (Rossini): Il vecchietto cerca moglie 37494

Edison, Milano

L’amico Fritz (Mascagni): Lacere miseri Unpubl. 44595

Ida Rappini (Mezzo-Soprano) (Bologna ? - ?)

She studied singing at the Liceo Musicale of Bologna. She made her debut in 1890 at the Teatro Sociale of Cento in ‘’Don Sebastiano’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1890 Cento Teatro Sociale Don Sebastiano (Zaida)

1892 Milano Teatro La Scala  Rigoletto (Maddalena)

1894 Genova   Teatro Carlo Felice Guglielmo Tell (Edwige)

1896 Milano Teatro La Scala  Carmen (Carmen)

1899 Bergamo Teatro Donizetti Carmen (Carmen)

1902 Imola Teatro Comunale Mignon (Federico)

1906 Ravenna  Teatro Mariani Rigoletto (Maddalena)

1922 Livorno Teatro Goldoni Matrimonio Segreto (Fidalma)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Fonotipia, Milano 1911-01-27

Don Debatiano (Donizetti): Terra adorata dei Padre miei 92776 XPh4507

Fonotipia, Milano 1914-04-27

Parisina (Mascagni): Sequenza delle tre donzelle with Solari and del Lungo 69136 Xph5064

Mirko Štork (Tenor) (Praha 1880 – Praha 1953)

                                                                 Lorenzo

He was active first as an employee. His education occurred autodidactically and he was promoted by musicologist Otokar Sourek. After his appearances at first in Pragueand in the surroundings of this town as a concert singer, he made his debut in 1904 at the Prague National Theatre as Grechineux in ‘’Les cloches de Corneville’’ of Planquette. After some other guest performances he was engaged in 1906 by the National Theatre in Pragueand remained in this house till 1936. He appeared in Prague also in several premieres of operas, thus in 1905 in ‘’Jessica’’ of J. B. Forester and in 1916 in ‘’Karlstein’’ of  V. Novák; on 23. 4. 1920 he sang there the title part in the premiere of L. Janácek’s ‘’Ausflüge des Herrn Broucek’’. Guest performances led him, above all as Wenzel in ‘’Verkauften Braut’’ to Stockholm, Warsaw, Vienna, Bucharest and in 1933 to Chicago.

Chronology of some appearances

1904-1936 Prague National Theatre

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Praha 1907/10
Prodaná nevěsta (Smetana): Zńam jednu dívku with Huml 38737 Zx202
Prodaná nevěsta (Smetana): Věrné milování with Ungrová 38738 Zx206
Prodaná nevěsta (Smetana): Utiš se, dívku 48130 Zx473
Prodaná nevěsta (Smetana): V studni with Kliment 48121 Zx418

Emil Burian (Baritone) (Rakovník 1876 – Prague 1926)

                                                                  Marcello

He was the younger brother of the famous Czech tenor Carl Burrian (also Karel Burian 1870-1924). He studied singing under Franz Pivoda in Prague. In 1895 he debuted at the Opera House of Cologne, then he sang in  Ostrava (Mährisch Ostrau) and Brno (Brünn), in the 1899-1901 seasons st the Opera House in Agram (Zagreb) and from 1902-04 at the Municipal Theatre in Pilsen. After appearing at the Opera Houses in Nuremberg and Freiburg i. Br. (1904-06) he joined in the 1906-07 season to the Dresden Court Opera. At that time also his brother Carl worked there, in  the 1908-10 season he performed at the Hamburg Municipal Theatre. In 1910 he was engaged by the Prague National Opera whose most significant singers he belonged up to his death. Also as a concert singer he enjoyed high respect. His son Emil František Burian (1904-59) worked as a composer, stage manager and director. 

Chronology of some appearances

1895 Cologne Opera House 

1899-1901 Zagreb Opera House

1902-04 Pilsen Municipal Theatre

1906-07 Dresden Court Opera

1908-10 Hamburg Municipal Theatre

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone
Dalibor (Smetana): Zpěv krále Vladislava 4-102558
Poutník (Jiránka) 4-102559

Odeon

Tannhauser (Wagner): O tu bell' astro 52001 
Faust (Gounod): Dio possente, dio d'amor  52030

Jumbo
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Si Puo? A 43315

Emilia Figoriti (Soprano) (Roma 1888 - ?)

Sister of the tenor Cesare Figoriti, she studied singing under the pedagogue Di Pietro and in 1906 made her debut at the Sociale of Treviso as Ornella in A. Franchetti’s ‘’Figlia di Jorio’’. After the retirement she went to Argentina.

Chronology of some appearances

1906 Treviso Teatro Sociale La Figlia di Jorio di A.Franchetti (Ornella)

1908 Milano Teatro Dal Verme I Maestri Cantori di Norimberga (Eva)

1911 Roma Teatro Apollo Pagliacci (Nedda)

1912 Roma Teatro Costanzi Africana (Ines)

RECORDING FOR SALE

Odeon Fonotipia, Milano 1908?

Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d'arte 37720 Xm1187

Anita Dell'Agli (Soprano) (? 1884 - ?)

Probably she was born in Sicily. She studied singing in Milan with Cesare Rossi and  made her debut in 1907 at the Teatro Dal Verme of Milan in ''Cavalleria Rusticana''.

Chronology of some appearances

1905 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)

1906 Milano Teatro Dal Verme Carmen (Micaela)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon Fonotipia, Milano 1905/1906
Traviata (Verdi): Addio del passato 37248 Xm536
Rigoletto (Verdi): Sì, vendetta with Giovanni Albinolo 37233 Xm537

Adolf Krössing (Tenor) (Prague 1848 - Prague 1933)

He was of well-to-do German-French parentage and grew up in culturally German surroundings. At his father’s behest he began to study law, but he switched to singing under Frantisek Vogl at the Prague Conservatoire. Student appearances led to his début at Prague’s National Theatre in ‘’Lucrezia Borgia’’ in 1870. After singing in opera for a while his career developed in operetta, particularly in buffo roles, in ‘’La Grande Duchesse de Gérolstein’’, for example. His finest portrayal was of Vašek in ‘’Prodaná Nevesta’’, which was exclusively his at the National Theatre from 1871 until his retirement in 1914. He was in a number of important premières: Smetana’s ‘’Tajemstvi’’ (1878) and ‘’Certova Stena’’ (1882); and Dvorák’s ‘’Šelma Sedlák’’ (1878), ‘’Jakobin’’ (1889), ‘’Rusalka’’ (1901) and ‘’Armida’’ (1904). From 1890 he was also a producer. This very rare record from the role of Vašek, in which Krössing was admired by the composer, was made when the artist was 82. Recorded about fifteen years after his retirement this could be a demonstration of a ‘post-modern’ approach to his role, but could simply indicate loss of hearing.

Chronology of some appearances

1870-1914 Prague National Theatre Lucrezia Borgia (Debut)

RECORDING FOR SALE

Odeon
Prodaná nevĕsta (Smetana): Ma...ma...ti... 118114-0

Adolf Wallnöfer (Tenor) (Wien 1854 – München 1946)

His father Franz Wallnöfer was a jeweler, who was also a concert and Lieder singer, who was well acquainted with the works of Franz Schubert, Gioacchino Rossini, Carl Maria von Weber und Frédéric Chopin. He studied singing with Luigi Lablache. He was considered a great interpret of Schubert's Lieder. Wallnöfer grew up in this musical environment. He studied composition and singing with O. Desoff and Krenn, then with Hans von Rokitansky. He appeared as Lieder singer in 1875. He probably made his stage debut in 1878 as baritone at the Stadttheater in Olmütz (Olomouc) as Luna. After he lived in Bayreuthwhere he studied Wagner singing. In 1880, he started to sing tenor roles and became one of the most known German and Wagner tenor of his time. Wallnöfer was also a respected Lieder singer and created several Lieder by Brahms, who composed them for him. Wallnöfer was also a composer who composed over 400 Lieder and ballads, choir works, piano pieces, chamber music, and one opera Eddystone (September 22, 1899 at the German Theatre in Prag). Since 1908, he lived in Munichas a composer and singing teacher. He published a book Resonanztonlehre (Berlin, 1911). He was married to the actress Marie Walter. He recorded for Beka and Favorit, all extremely rare records.

Chronology of some appearances

1881-82: Olmütz 1882-85: Stadttheater in Bremen1885-95: German Theatre in Prag 1882-83: Tour with Angelo Neumanns's wanderndem Wagner- Theater through several European nations. In 1888, Wallnöfer took part in Prag in the premiere of Die drei Pintos in the Mahler's version. 1895-96: MET 1896: Tour through Russiaafter he first appeared in 1889 with great succes in Saint Petersburg and Moscow. 1895-97: Stadttheater in Stettin. 1897-99: Opernhaus in Breslau. 1899-1905: Stadttheater in Nürnberg. 1905-06: Direktor of the Stadttheater in Rostock. 1906-07 and 1909-10: Wiener Volskoper. 1907-09: Graz. Until 1914, he appeared only as guest: Hofoper in Wien (1904-09, Radames (February 2, 1907), Eléazar (January 30, 1907), Otello May 3, 1907, total 3 times), Loge (March 14, 1904), Siegmund (November 7, 1906), Siegfried (S)( March 20, 1904), Siegfried (G)( December 7, 1909, total 2), Samson (May 24, 1907) , Tannhäuser (March 8, 1904), Tristan (February 23, 1907)), Hamburg (1898), Riga (1896, 1909) and Brünn (Brno, 1907).

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Favorite, Wien 
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 1-25288
Lohengrin (Wagner): Lohengrin Abschied 1-25289
Lohengrin (Wagner): Lohengrin's Abschied 1-25282

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Preislied 1-25294
Tannhäuser (Wagner): Dir, töne Lob 1-25299

Albert Alvarez (Tenor) (Bordeaux 1861 - Nice 1933)

His real name is Raymond Gourron. He was first bandmaster of a military chapel, but in 1883 began to study singing under Martini in Paris. 1886 debuted at the Opera of Ghent ain Gounod’s ‘’Faust’’. He then sang in Lyon and Marseille in 1892 and came to the Grand Opera of Paris. He sang on 06.20.1894 in the premiere of Massenet’s “Thaïs” in the role of Nicias, in 1895 sang in the world premiere of “La Montagne Noire” of Augusta Holmès, two years later appeared as Walther von Stolzing in the Paris premiere of  Wagner’s “Meistersinger” (in french language). In 1897 he performed in the world premiere of A. Bruneau’s  ‘’Messidor,” in 1901 in the world premiere of “Astarte” by Xavier Leroux, in 1904 in “Le fils de l’Étoile” by Camille Erlanger. He participated at the Grand Opéra in Paris also in 1896 at the premiere of the opera “Hellé” by Victor Duvernoy, in 1898 in “La Burgonde” by Paul Vidal and in 1905 at the premiere of the opera “Fredegonde” by Ernest Guiraud. In Monte Carlo, he starred in the world premieres of operas “Messaline” De Lara (21/03/1899) and “Hélène” (dedicated to Nellie Melba) of Saint-Saëns (02/18/1904). With Jules Massenet and with the then-known composer Isidore de Lara, he was acquainted. Almost every year guested frequently from 1893 to 1903 at Covent Garden Opera in London. Here he sang on the 20/06/1894 the role of Araquil in the world premiere of the opera “La Navarraise” by Massenet, in 1893 in the world premiere of “Amy Robsart” by Isidore De Lara. In the 1899-1903 seasons he appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in New York (debut as Roméo in “Roméo et Juliette” by Gounod). In the  1907-08 he undertook a major tour in Belgium and Germany. Then he sang at the Grand Opéra again, and finally he worked as a teacher in Paris.

Chronology of some appearances

1886 Ghent Opera House Faust

1892 Lyon Opera House

1892 Marseille Opera House

1893-1903 London Covent Garden

1894 Paris Grand Opera Thaïs

1895 Paris Grand Opera La Montagne Noire

1896 Hellé Paris Grand Opera

1897 Paris Grand Opera Meistersinger and Messidor

1898 Paris Grand Opera La Burgonde

1899 Monte Carlo Opera House Messaline

1899-1903 New York Metropolitan Opera

1901 Paris Grand Opera Astarte

1904 Paris Grand Opera Le fils de l’Étoile

1905 Paris Grand Opera Fredegonde

1907-08 Belgium and Germany Tour

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Pathé cylinders & discs, Paris 1903?

Noël d'amour (Luigini) 1621

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Cavatine 1625

Le biniou (Durand) 1626

Stances (Flégier) 1627

Martha (Flotow): Lorsqu'à mes yeux 1628

La rosilla (Yradier) 1629

Walküre (Wagner): Chanson du printemps 1634

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Pauvre Paillasse 1636

Lasciali dir (Tosti) 1637 

Otello (Verdi): Arioso di 2° atto 1639

Carmen (Bizet): La fleur 1640

Le soir (Gounod) 1646

Sigurd (Reyer): Un souvenir poignant 1651

Ninon (Tosti) 1652

Africaine (Meyerbeer): Air de Vasco de Gama 1655

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Entrata di Pagliaccio 1656

Joseph (Méhul): Champ paternel 1658

Roi d'Ys (Lalo): Aubade 1662

Les boeufs (Dupont) 1664

Pathé, Paris 1905?

Me cal mouri (Tasmin) 0233

Prophète (Meyerbeer): Duo du Ve acte with Delna 0235

Favorite (Donizetti): Duo du IVe acte with Delna 0236

Faust (Gounod): Salut, demeure 0241

Faust (Gounod): Salut, ô mon dernier matin 0244

Gualtiero Bosse (Bass) (Riga 1877 – St. Petersburg 1953)

                                                                Mefistofele

Son of a French pianist and Swedish singer, Riga born he studied in St. Ptersburg under I. Rosset, then Italy with Ronconi  and Pintorni. Since 1903 he appeared in Italy (Milan, Genua, Venezia, Padua), Holland (Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hague), then gave a recitals in Germany (Berlin, Leipzig, Hannover). In 1905 he returned to Russia and became a soloist ofthe St. Petersburg Italian Opera. In 1906 he appeared at the New Opera of St. Petersburg. In the 1906-1909 season he sang at the Opera House of Kiev. From 1909  to 1920 he was a soloist of the St. Petesburg Mariinksy Theatre. He retired from the stage in 1940. He made only four records for Extra Record.

Chronology of some appearances

1905 St. PetersburgItalian Opera

1906 St. PetersburgNew Opera

1906-1909 Kiev Opera House

1909-1920 St. Petesburg Mariinksy Theatre

RECORDING FOR SALE

Extra Record

Juive (Halevy): Cavatine