Giovanni Rambaldi (Tenor) (Asti, Italia 30. 4. 1874 - Asti, Italia 8. 7. 1953)

                                                                             Duca

From 1891 to 1894 he studied singing in Milan under the pedagogue Leonida Boschini and in 1894 made his debut at the Teatro of Casale Monferrato as Alfredo in ‘’La Traviata’’. Mostly he appeared at the provincial Italian operatic stages, but had his biggest success in South America (Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Mexico), where he was to be found almost annually. His best roles were in operas of G. Verdi, G. Puccini, A. Ponchielli and U. Giordano, also in ‘’Ruy Blas’’ of F. Marchetti, in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’ of P. Mascagni, in ‘’Mignon’’ of A. Thomas and in ‘’Saffo’’ of G. Pacini. In 1906 he substituted at the Teatro Argentina in Roma for the ill tenor Edoardo Garbin as Lohengrin and had a huge success. In Parma he was admired for his Maurizio in ‘’Adriana Lecouvreur’’of F. Cilea. After his retirement he taught singing in his hometown Asti.

Chronology of some appearances

1894 Casale Monferrato Teatro Traviata (Alfredo)
1895 Alba  Sociale Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)
1895 Alba Sociale  Forza del Destino (Alvaro)
1896 Camerino  Marchetti Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1896 Ostiglia Nuovo Ernani (Ernani)
1896 Cavarzere Sociale Ernani (Ernani)
1986 Milano Carcano Ernani (Ernani)
1897 Reggio Emilia  Municipale Andrea Chenier (Andrea Chenier)
1896 La Valletta / Malta  Reale Gioconda (Enzo)
1897 La Valletta / Malta  Reale Carmen (Don Jose)
1897 Gallarate  Condominiale  Gioconda (Enzo)
1898 Gorizia  Sociale Boheme (Rodolfo)
1898 Lecco  Sociale Boheme (Rodolfo)
1898 Correggio  Bonifazio Asioli Boheme (Rodolfo)
1898 Marsiglia Gymnase Gioconda (Enzo)
1899 Pavia Fraschini Andrea Chenier (Andrea Chenier)
1899 Asti Alfieri Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)
1899 Livorno  Goldoni Boheme (Rodolfo)
1899 Udine Minerva Boheme (Rodolfo)
1899 Cento Comunale Boheme (Rodolfo)
1899 Conegliano Accademia Boheme (Rodolfo)
1899 Oporto S. Joao Gioconda (Enzo)
1900 Sanremo Principe Amedeo Boheme (Rodolfo)
1900 Sanremo Principe Amedeo Favorita (Fernando)
1900 Torino Carignano Boheme (Rodolfo)
1900 Rio de Janeiro Lirico Boheme (Rodolfo)
1901 Trento Sociale Boheme (Rodolfo)
1901 La Spezia  Politeama Duca di Genova Boheme (Rodolfo)
1901 La Spezia  Politeama Duca di Genova  Favorita (Fernando)
1901 Città del Messico Arbeu Boheme (Rodolfo)
1901 Messico Principal Favorita (Fernando)
1903 Saragozza  Principal Africana (Vasco)
1903 Siena  Dei Rinnovati Andrea Chenier (Andrea Chenier)
1903 Barcellona  Tivoli Boheme (Rodolfo)
1903 Bologna  Politeama D'Azeglio Boheme (Rodolfo)
1904 Siena Dei Rinnovati Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1906 Roma Teatro Adriano Lohengrin (Lohengrin)
1906 Roma Adriano Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1906 Politeama Reinach Adriana Lecouvreur (Maurizio)

Giovanni Rambaldi never made records

Alessandro Arcangeli (Baritone) (Rome, Italy 1871 - Chicago, USA 1918)

                                                                             Rigoletto

Probably he made his debut in 1893. In 1907 he went to USA and appeared with success at different opera theatres. He was highly acclaimed by Giacomo Puccini, who considered him as the greatest interpreter of his operas. Among his pupils were the famous baritone Gaetano Viviani (1896-1954).

Chronology of some appearances

1894 Vicenza  Comunale  Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)
1895 Belem Paz Ballo in maschera (Renato)
1895 Rio de Janeiro  Lirico Africana (Nelusko)
1895 Rio de Janeiro Lirico Carmen (Escamillo)
1895 San Paolo San Josè Africana (Nelusko)
1895 San Paolo San Josè  Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)   
1896 Rio de Janeiro Apollo Africana (Nelusko)
1896 Rio de Janeiro Apollo Ballo in maschera (Renato)
1897 Buenos Ayres Odeon Boheme (Marcello)
1897 Santa Fè  Olimpo Boheme (Marcello)
1897 Rio de Janeiro  Lirico Boheme (Marcello)
1897 San Paolo San Josè Boheme (Marcello)
1897 San Paolo San Josè Ballo in maschera (Renato)
1898 Genova Politeama Genovese  Gli Ugonotti (Nevers)
1898 Parma Teatro Regio Ballo in maschera (Renato)
1899 Torino Vittorio Emanuele Gli Ugonotti (Nevers)
1900 Milano  La Scala Boheme (Marcello)
1901 Palermo Massimo Boheme (Marcello)
1901 Roma Teatro Costanzi Le maschere (Capitan Spaventa)
1902 Carpi  Comunale Andrea Chenier (Gerard)
1903 Firenze Della Pergola Boheme (Marcello)
1903 Madrid  Lirico Boheme (Marcello)
1903 Torino Carignano Boheme (Marcello)
1905 Verona Ristori Andrea Chenier (Gerard)

Alessandro Arcangeli never made records

Francesco Runcio (Tenor)

                                                                          Turiddu

Chronology of some appearances

1874 La Valletta / Malta  Manoel Elisir D'Amore (Nemorino)
1877 Belfast Royal Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)
1877 London Her Majesty's Theater Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)
1878 Dublino Reale  Carmen (Don Jose)
1878 London Her Majesty's Theater Carmen (Don Jose)
1880 London Her Majesty's Theater Aida (Radames)
1880 London Her Majesty's Theater Carmen (Don Jose) 
1881 London Her Majesty's Theater Aida (Radames)
1881 London Her Majesty's Theater Carmen (Don Jose)
1881 Brooklyn  Academy of Music Carmen (Don Jose)
1882 London Covent Garden Carmen (Don Jose) 
1883 Valencia Principal  Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)
1883 Valencia Principal Ernani (Ernani)
1883 Genova Politeama Genovese Carmen (Don Jose)
1883 Bologna Brunetti Carmen (Don Jose) 
1884 Saragozza  Principal Africana (Vasco)
1884 Saragozza  Principal Ernani (Ernani)
1884 Barcellona Del Circo Aida (Radames)
1884 Madrid De La Zarzuela Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)
1884 Barcellona  Buen Retiro Ernani (Ernani)
1885 Acireale Bellini Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)
1886 London Covent Garden Ballo in maschera (Riccardo) shared with Julian Gayarre
1886 London Covent Garden Ernani (Ernani)
1886 Edimburgo Royal Carmen (Don Jose)
1887 Belfast Reale Carmen (Don Jose)
1887 Cork  Royal Carmen (Don Jose)
1887 Dublino Royal Carmen (Don Jose) 
1891 Budapest Reale Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1892 Budapest  Reale Carmen (Don Jose)
1893 Bucarest Nazionale Carmen (Don Jose)
1893 Atene Della Commedia Ernani (Ernani)     
1894 Trieste Politeama Rossetti Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1894 Livorno Politeama Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1895 San Pietroburgo  Petit Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1896 Stettino Stadt Aida (Radames)  
1897 Napoli  Mercadante Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1898 'S-Gravenhage  Gebouw Voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen Carmen (Don Jose) 
1899 Bari Piccinni Don Carlo (Don Carlo)  
1900 San Gallo Stadt Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1900 San Gallo Stadt Carmen (Don Jose) 
1900 Novara Coccia Aida (Radames)

Francesco Runcio never made records

Vladimir Rosing (Tenor) ( St. Petersburg, Russia January 23 1890 – Santa Monica, California November 24, 1963)

                                                                           Herman

First he studied law at the St. Petersburg University, then privately singing with Ioakim Tartakov. He made his debut in 1910 in a concert together with the famous Heifetz. In 1910, Rosing departed to Europe where he perfected singing with Sir George Power (London), Giovanni Sbrillia and Jean de Reszke (Paris). He made his operatic debut at the Theater of Musical Drama in St. Petersburg as Trike in ‘’Eugene Onegin’’ (1912). Later he appeared there as Lensky (‘’Eugene Onegin’’), Pretender (‘’Boris Godunov’’) and Walther von Stolzing (‘’Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg’’). Here his partners were L. Lipkovskaya and M. Davidova. He became world famous after his sensational debut in London at Albert-hall (together with Alice Verlet and Mischa Elman, 1913). In 1914 he became a director of the London Opera House ‘’Kingaway’’. From 1913 to 1921 he gave 104 recitals in London. In the 1915-1916 season he appeared with success at the Drury Lane Theatre in London. In 1921, as a member of the Car Rosa Opera Company, he sang the part of Cavaradossi in G. Puccini’s ‘’Tosca’’. The same year he sang at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in the following operas: ‘’The Queen of Spades’’ (Hermann), ‘’Pagliacci’’ (Canio), ‘’Faust’’ (Faust) and ‘’Carmen’’ (Don Jose). The made guest appearances In Brussels (Théâtre de la Monnaie) and Madrid (Teatro Reale). Since 1921 he lived in USA, where made appearances at the opera houses of Chicago and New York. He sang on stage up to 1930. He had a powerful metallic baritonal voice. His most considerable achievement was his concerts activity. In 1916 together with V. Safonov, he organized in Liverpool concerts of Russian music. He was very popular in the US and Great Britain, where his talent was very much appreciated. B. Shaw. He was also a producer, and in 1936 he organized at London together with A. Coates a company of British operas, in 1939 he was the director in Los Angeles of the Californian opera association.

 
Chronology of some appearances

1912 St. Petersburg Theater of Musical Drama Eugene Onegin (Trike)
1913 London Albert-hall Concert with Alice Verlet and Mischa Elman
1921 London Car Rosa Opera Company Tosca (Cavaradossi)
1921 Paris Opéra-Comique The Queen of Spades (Hermann)
1921 Paris Opéra-Comique Pagliacci (Canio)
1921 Paris Opéra-Comique Carmen (Don Jose)
1921 Paris Opéra-Comique Faust (Faust)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Gramophone, 1912-05
Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle (It)  4-22387 16560b
Werther (Massenet): Pourquoi me réveiller?  4-22386 16561b

Gramophone, 1912-11-30
Spanish serenade (Rechkunov)  4-22447 17069b
We sat together (Tchaikovsky) 4-22448 17070½b
Cradle song (Gretchaninov) 4-22449 17072b

Gramophone, 1912-12-03
Virtus antiqua (Glinka) 4-22450 17078b

HMV, London 1913-07-03
I wish I were with thee (Gretchaninoff) 4-22589 Ho728ab
O give me the night (Bagrinovsky)  4-22588 Ho726ab
Nature morte (Jakobson); Hebrew song (Glinka)  4-22674 Ho725ab

HMV, London 1913-07-31
May Night (Rimsky-Korsakov): Levko's aria  4-22617  ak16845e
Autumn (Tcherepnin)  4-22618 ak16849e
Do not believe (Petrov)  4-22613 ak16848e
Mattinata (Leoncavallo) (It)  4-22675 ak16846e

HMV, London 1915-05-23
Pikova Dama (Tchaikovsky): Forgive me, bright celestial vision  2-022000
Pikova Dama (Tchaikovsky): If ever you knew 2-022001 Ho835ac

Vocalion, London 1919-07? 
Martha (Flotow): M'appari A-0233  01248

Vocalion, London 1920-06? 
Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Ah, lève-toi, soleil  A-0233 01849

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Josef Drvota (Tenor) (Slaný, Czech Republic 02. 06.1874 - Prague, Czech Republic 07. 01.1923)

He was engaged by the Vinohrady Theatre in Prague and Plzen, where he sang a huge variety of major roles. His repertoire included Alfredo in ‘’Traviata’’, Manrico in ‘’Il Trovatore’’, Radames in ‘’Aida’’, Turiddu in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’, Pinkerton in ''Madama Buttefly'' etc.

Chronology of some appearances

Prague  Vinohrady Theatre

Plzen Opera Theatre

RECORDINGS FOR SALE 

Arena 
Prodana nevesta (Smetana): Verne milovani with Kalivodova 8188

HMV, Prague 1910's
Trovatore (Verdi): Di quella pira 4-102519 301
Le Postillon de Lonjumeau (Adam): Mes amis écoutez l'histoire 4-102520 301

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Franca Franchi (Soprano) (Varese, Italia 1902 - ?)

She studied singing at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Milan and made her debut in 1924 as contralto. In 1926 she sang a huge number of parts at the Teatro Colón of Buenos Aires, where on 23. 7. 1926 she also participated in the premiere of the opera ‘’Ollantay’’ of the Argentine composer Constantino Gaito. In 1928 she made her second debut at the Teatro Coccia in Novara as Marina in ‘’Boris Godunov’’. As dramatic soprano she appeared primarily at the Italian provincial operatic stages.

Chronology of some appearances

1924 Milano Teatro La Scala Andrea Chenier (Contessa/Madelon) 

1925 Como Teatro Sociale Walkiria (Fricka)

1926 Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Ollantay (Mamai)

1927 Parma Teatro Regio Andrea Chenier (Contessa/Madelon) 

1928 Novara  Teatro Coccia Boris Godunov (Marina)

1929 Milano Teatro Lirico Gioconda (Gioconda)

1930 Bologna  Arena Italia Trovatore (Leonora)

1931 Brescia Teatro Grande Gioconda (Gioconda)

1934 Ascoli Piceno Teatro Ventidio Basso Gioconda (Gioconda)

1935 Venezia Teatro La Fenice Gioconda (Gioconda)

RECORDING FOR SALE

Durium

Tucu-Tuncu (Hotman) A 8209

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Wanda Achsel (Soprano) (Berlin, Germany 12 October 1886 † Wien, Austria 3 August 1977)

She was a pupil of the Berlin vocal pedagogue Laura Détschy. In 1910 she made her debut at the Berlin Sommer-Oper as Elsa in ‘’Lohengrin’’. In the 1910-1912 seasons she was engaged by the Stadttheater in Würzburg, in the 1912-1923 seasons she sang at the Opernhaus of Cologne and from 1923 to 1939 at the Wien Staatsoper. Already during her engagement in Cologne she became a known soprano and appeared at the Cologne Opera among other things in the premières of the operas ‘’Königskinder’’ of Humperdinck, ‘’Die heilige Elisabeth’’ by F. Liszt and ’’Der Rosenkavalier’’ of Richard Strauss. At the Staatsoper in Wien she sang in 1923 the difficult title part in the première of the opera ‘’Fredegundis’’ of Franz Schmidt. She gave guest performances in Holland, Poland, Yugoslavia and in Czechoslovakia.  At the Salzburg festival she guested in 1926 as Rosalinde in ‘’Fledermaus’’. Her repertoire included Cio-Cio-San in ‘’Madama Butterfly’’, Mimi in ‘’La Bohème’’, Desdemona in ‘’Otello’’, Elsa in ‘’Lohengrin’’, Elisabeth in ‘’Tannhäuser’’, Sieglinde in ‘’Walküre’’, Octavian in ’’Der Rosenkavalier’’, Marie in ‘’Wozzeck’’. In 1935 she performed at the Staatsoper in Wien in the premiere of ‘’Die Dame im Traum’’ by Franz Salmhofer, in 1937 at the same opera house in the première of B. Paumgartner’s opera Rossini in Neapel’’. Till 1933 she was married with tenor Hans Clemens (1890-1958), whom she had got to know during her Cologne engagement. After her retirement she taught singing in Vienna.

Chronology of some appearances

1910 Berlin Sommer-Oper

1910-1912 Würzburg Stadttheater

1912-1923 Cologne Opernhaus

1923-1939 Wien Staatsoper

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

HMV, Wien 1929-06-04
Königskinder (Humperdinck): Vater, Mütter hier will ich knien AM2181 (29-943006)
Es ist alles wie ein wunderbarer Garten (Ast) AM2181 (29-943007)
Fliegende Holländer (Wagner): Ballade der Senta AM2182 (29-943008)

HMV, Wien 1929-06-05
Trovatore (Verdi): Es glänzte schon das Sternenheer  AM2182 (29-943009)

Play Music - Listen Audio -

Anna Rozsa (Soprano) (Temesvar, Romania 1898 - Cluj, Romania 4. 8. 1987)

As a child She came to North America and studied singing at the conservatoire of Milwaukee. In 1921 she returned to Romania, where she continued her education with Jenny Czolak in Craiova. In the end, she became a pupil of Tina Scognamiglio in Milan. She made her debut as mezzo-soprano in 1921 at the Municipal Theater of Cluj as Siebel in ‘’Faust’’ by C. Gounod. In 1928 she went to Italy and now appeared as soprano. In 1931 she appeared at the Teatro Alla Scala as Freia in "Rheingold", in addition she sang at several Italian provincial operatic stages. In 1932 she returned to Romania and made guest appearance in Budapest as Violetta in ‘’La Traviata’’. From 1934 to 1944 she was engaged by the Bucharest Opera and guested in Temesvar, Cluj, Czernowitz (Tschernowzyn) and Jassy, in 1942 also in Odessa. Then she lived in Cluj, where she was active in the educational area.

Chronology of some appearances

1931 Milano Teatro Alla Scala 

1934-1944 Budapest Opera

1942 Odessa Opera

RECORDINGS FOR SALE 

 

HMV, Milano 1930-06-20
Traviata (Verdi): Dite alla giovine with Apollo Granforte DB1453 32-1657 

HMV, Milano 1930-09
Carmen (Bizet): La tua madre with Antonio Cortis DB1749

HMV, Milano 1930-10?
Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): Sulla tomba with Aureliano Pertile DB1481 32-1891
Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti): Verranno a te with Aureliano Pertile DB1481 32-1956

Rinaldo Schenone (Tenor) (Genova 1890 - ?)

In 1923 he was engaged for the season of Coliseo Buenos Ayres. He decided to move to the United States groped for the luck in the opera. After being returned to Italy went again in the United States and decided to devote himself also to the Musical.

Chronology of some appearances

1916 Rome Teatro Adriano Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1918 Rome Teatro Nazionale Tosca (Cavaradossi)

1919 Modena Teatro Storchi Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1920 Catania Teatro Bellini Pagliacci (Canio)

1921 Genova Teatro Paganini Pagliacci (Canio)

1922 Palermo Teatro Biondo Forza del Destino (Alvaro)

1923 Buenos Ayres Teatro Coliseo Aida (Radames)

1924 New York Manatthan Opera House Pagliacci (Canio)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

Fonotipia Milano, 1919-01-01
Die Walküre (Wagner): finale, Act I with  Giuseppina Baldassarre-Tedeschi 74230  xxPh 5299 

Fonotipia Milano, 1922-01-01
Samson e Dalila (Saint-Saens): Figli miei v'arrestate  152526 Pho 5503

Fonotipia Milano, 1922-12-01 
Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Mazurka with Giuseppina Baldassarre Tedeschi  152527 Pho 5502

Folke Andersson (Tenor) ( 16 december 1892 i Eskilstuna - 16 juni 1988 i Hälleforsnäs)

He was a pupil of Thekla Hofer and Torsten Lennartsson in Stockholm. From 1919 to 1921 he studied singing at the opera class of the Royal Opera school in Stockholm. He made his debut in 1921 at the Stockholm Opera as count Almaviva in G. Rossini’s ‘’Il Barbiere di Siviglia’’. In  the 1922-1924  seasons he appeared at this opera house and then undertook tours as a concert singer. He travelled around Sweden, Finland, several times the USA (since 1926) and Soviet Union. During the 1930’s he performed at the Stora Theater in Gothenburg and at the Oscar Theater in Stockholm, where he distinguished himself as an operetta singer. At the same time he had a significant career with the Swedish broadcasting company. 

Chronology of some appearances

1921-1924 Stockholm Royal Opera

1930's Gothenburg Stora Theate/Stockholm Oscar Theater 


 RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Victor, Chicago 1927-06-14
En hälsning till Lindbergh (O du gamla, o du fria) (trad) 79423 BVE38691
Folkvisa (Där björkarna susa) (Merikanto) 79423 BVE38692


HMV, Stockholm 1928-09-26
Blåöga, solöga (Norrman) X2909 BS2990
Det är vackrast när det skymmer (Norrman) X2909 BS2991


HMV, Stockholm 1929-05-06
Jag längtar hem (Romans) (Bratt) X3055 BE1488

HMV, Stockholm 1929-05-07
En barnsaga vid brasan (Merikanto) X3055 BE1492


HMV, Stockholm 1932-09-15
Desert Song (Romberg): Finns endast i din trädgård en blomma X3994 0PA37


HMV, Stockholm 1932-09-15
Allah vill dig från oss skilja (Fisher) X3994 0PA38


HMV, Stockholm 1933-08-25
Fiolen kan säga dig allt (Winter-Cassel) X4168 0PA165

Kärlekens rödaste rosor (Bailey) X4168 0PA164

HMV, Stockholm 1933-09-09
Serenad (Schubert) X4194  0PA166
Vaggsång (Nordlund)  X4194 0PA167
New Moon (Romberg): Älskling, jag väntar dig X4169 0PA168
New Moon (Romberg): Stilla som sol i duvblå gryning X4169 0PA169

HMV, Stockholm 1935-09-04
När ljusen tändas därhemma (Lyons-Hart-The Vagabonds) with Moberg X4500 0SB180

Dennis Noble (Baritone) (25. 9. 1898 Bristol, England † Javea, Spain 14. 3. 1966)

                                                                               Figaro

His real name was William Ewart Noble. He was trained by Dinh Gilly in London and later in Italy. After the First World War he sang in English cinemas and was discovered by the conductor Percy Pitt. In 1924 he provided for Noble an engagement for the London Covent Garden, where as the first role he took over the part of Marullo in ‘’Rigoletto’’. During the next six years he appeared at Covent Garden in small parts and only in 1930 he had a huge success as Sharpless  in  ’’Madama Butterfly’’ and especially in 1931 as Germont-père in ‘’La Traviata’’ opposite Rose Ponselle. In 1937 he sang there in the premiere of the opera ‘’Don Juan de Mañara’’ of E. Goossens. Till 1938 he was active as the first baritone of the London Covent Garden. In 1947 he again appeared here. He further sang with the British National Opera Company in London and with Carl Rose Opera Company, made guest performances at the opera houses of Cleveland (1935-36) and Cincinnati. At  Convent Garden he performed in premieres of several operas: ‘’Pickwick’’ of A. Coates (1936), ‘’Judith’’ (25. 9. 1929), ‘’Don Juan de Mañara’’ (24. 6. 1937)  by E. Goossens. 

Chronology of some appearances

1924 London Covent Garden Rigoletto (Marullo)

1930 London Covent Garden Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)

1931 London Covent Garden La Traviata (Germont-père)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Columbia, London 1927
Complete Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) with  Mullings, Licette, Williams and Nash

Columbia, 1928-01-24
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Largo al factorum 9556 WAX 3200

Columbia, 1943-12-20
Traviata (Verdi): Ah! Say to thy daughter with  Joan Hammond C3387 2ER 734
Traviata (Verdi): Now command me with Joan Hammond C3387 2ER 733

Fritz Werner (Tenor) (18. November 1871 Wien, † 22. September 1940 Bad Hall)

His real name was Fritz Herz; he was the son of a Viennese dentist. He was trained by pedagogue Hermann Grün in Vienna and his first part sang in 1892 at the Rudolfsheimer Volkstheater in Vienna in "Les dragons de Villars" of Maillart. Afterwards he guested in Ischl as Canio in ‘’Pagliacci’’ and Turiddu in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’. In the 1893-1896 seasons he was engaged as the first Tenor-Buffo by the theaters of Cologne and Bonn. Now he turned to the operetta and joined in 1896 to the Theater an der Wien. There he had in operetta "Der Schmetterling"  (as Rosefleur) by Weinberger a prominent success. In 1898, under the impresario Jauner,  he took part in the Russia tour of a Viennese operetta ensemble. He made guest performance at the Berliner Theater des Westens in opera "Der Husar" by I. Brüll. In Vienna he appeared only 200 times at the Carl Theater as Niki in operetta "Ein Waltertraum" by Oscar Straus. Then he performed  in Munich, Stuttgart, Mannheim and Karlsruhe and in the 1900-1902 and again in the 1904-1906 seasons he was a member of the Theater am Gärtnerplatz in München.  in the  1902-1903 season he was engaged by the Viennese Carl Theater, where he also made appearances in  the 1907-1910 seasons.  In  the 1913-1914 season he was active as a singer and director at the Viennese Bürgertheater; then he was active at the Metropoltheater in Berlin, Operettentheater in Hamburg and in the 1924-1925 season at the Corso-Theater in Zürich. In 1926 he retired because of a heavy illness. He appeared in a huge number of operetta premieres, among other things: "Der Frauenfresser" by E. Eysler (Bürgertheater Wien 1911), "Der lachende Ehemann" of the same composer (Bürgertheater Wien 1913), "Die Winzerbraut" of O. Nedbal (Theater an der Wien 1916) and "Das Hollandweibchen" of E. Kálmán (Johann Strauß-Theater Wien 1920), "Ein Walzertraum" (Carl-Theater 1907) and "Rund um die Liebe" by Oscar Straus (Johann Strauß-Theater 1914) as well as the operetta ‘’Mädi’’ of Robert Stolz (Berlin Theater 1920). 

Chronology of some appearances

1892 Rudolfsheimer Volkstheater
1892 Ischl Theater
1896 Theater an der Wien
1900-1902 München Theater am Gärtnerplatz
1902-1903 Wien Carl Theater
1904-1906 München Theater am Gärtnerplatz
1907-1910 Wien Carl Theater
1913-1914 Wien Bürgertheater
1924-1925 Zürich Corso-Theater

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Berlin  1905
Geh, mach' dein Fensterl auf (Jurek) 3-42234  3139L
I und der Mond (Leicht) 3-42233 3138L

G&T, Berlin 1906
Verzeihe mir Fritz Werner 3-42653 4558L

Zonophone,  Berlin 1906
Der Herrgott meint's gut Maxstadt X-22451

G&T, Berlin 7- 1-10
Der Graf von Luxemburg (Lehár): Ich bin der Graf von Luxemburg V* 2-22191  2014ab
Der Graf von Luxemburg (Lehár): Bist du's lachendes Glück V* 2-24152  2015ab

Henri Dons (Baritone) (Ghent, Belgium 1864 - Brussels, Belgium 1936)

He received his education at the Conservatory of Ghent. From 1896 to 1906 he joined to the Ghent Opera. As a guest he appeared at this opera house also in the 1899/1900, 1904/05 and 1905/06 seasons. An important part of his career took place in Netherlands, where for several years he performed at the  Hollandsch Opera-Gezelschap created by  Johannes de Groot. On September 25, 1889, he made his debut in G. Verdi's ‘’La Traviata’’ as doctor Grenvil at the Parkschouwburg in Amsterdam. In that same season he sang the roles of Count Oberthal (‘’Le Prophet’’), Sulpice (‘’La figlia del reggimento’’), Monterone (‘’Rigoletto’’) and Gessler (‘’William Tell’’). In 1890, he sang at the Nederlandsche Opera also the parts of Nilakantha (‘’Lakmé’’) and Lothario (‘’Mignon’’). On september 8, 1894, he sang at the Nederlandsche Opera-Vereeniging the role of Mephistofele in ‘’Faust’’ by C. Gounod. At  the Theatre Royal de la Haye he appeared again as Mephistofele in ‘’Faust’’ (30 September, 1899). His last performance was in Netherlands on 6 December 1916 at the Nederlandsch Opera  as Escamillo in ‘’Carmen’’ by G. Bizet.  His repertoire included King/Il re (‘’Aida’’), Roger (‘’Jerusalem’’ by G.b Verdi), Garrido Tonio (‘’Pagliacci’’), Casper (‘’Der Freischütz’’), Des Grieux (‘’Manon’’), Le grand inquisitor (‘’L'Africaine’’), Sparafucile (‘’Rigoletto’’), Dr. Falke (‘’Die Fledermaus’’), Le commandeur (‘’Don Giovanni’’) and Alfio in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’.

Chronology of some appearances

1889 Amsterdam Parkschouwburg
1899 Theatre Royal de la Haye
1890 Amsterdam Nederlandsche Opera

1896-1906 Ghent Opera

1899-1900 Ghent Opera

1904-1905 Ghent Opera

1905-1906 Ghent Opera

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Berliner, Amsterdam 1901-09-10

Les rameaux (Faure) 32973 859B

G&T, Paris 1902
Chalet (Adam): Vallons de l'Helvétie 2-32507 780F

Pathé cylinders & discs, Bruxelles 1905?

Het dierbaar ouderhuis (van Herzeele) 9433

Het lied van den smid (Wijbo) 9434

Odeon, Berlin? 1906-12?

Hamlet (Thomas)  Chanson Bachique A33008 FO 106

Giovanni Azzimonti (Bass) (Rome, Italy 16 November 1889 - ?)

He made his debut in Italy. In  the 1915-1916 season he sang at the Italian Opera in Holland. Here he appeared as king in ‘’Aida’’, Tom in ’’Ballo in maschera’’ and Stromminger in ‘’La Wally’’. He took a ship to England. On the way across the English Channel, the Sussex was torpedoed by a German U-boat, as part of the German World War I policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. He survived, while the Spanish composer Enrique Granados and his wife as well as the Spanish mezzo-soprano Rosita Cesaretti died. In Italy Azzimonti continued his Comprimario career and appeared there among other things also at La Scala, where he on 23. 4. 1923  he sang in the premiere of the opera ‘’Belfagor’’ by O. Respighi. In 1935 iat Florence he took part in the premiere of  I. Pizzetti’s  opera ‘’L'Orseolo’’. In the 1934-1935 season and in 1943 he again made guest appearances in Holland.

Chronology of some appearances

1915-1916 Holland Italian Opera

1934-1935 Holland Italian Opera

RECORDING FOR SALE 

HMV, Milano  21-11-29
Tosca (Puccini): Ah, finalmente! with Antonio Gelli 102-610 AN 683

Dumitru Mihăilescu-Toscani (Tenor) (Bucureşti 1 oct. 1888 - Bucureşti 10 mai 1962)

                                                                          Cavaradossi


Prim tenor de la Opera Romana.

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

HMV, Bucarest 19-11-27
La partida (Alvarez) 7-62182 AM 1057
Smaranda (Mihăilescu-Toscani) 15-12964 AM 1057

Ana Moga-Georgescu/Moga Georgesco/Moga-Georgescu d'Artessi

She appeared in Romania, France, Poland and Italy.

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Pathé, Paris 1919/1920
Traviata (Verdi): Ah, fors'è lui 0304 3017
Rigoletto (Verdi): Caro nome 0304 3016

 

Enrico De Primo (Tenor) (Nice, France ? - ?)

He studied singing in Milano and made his debut in 1910 as Radames in ''Aida''.  In 1915 he went to USA, where he continued the career. He made a few records for Pathé in Milano.

Chronology of some appearances

1911 Roma Teatro Costanzi Guglielmo Tell (Arnoldo)
1913 Sassari Politeama Verdi Trovatore (Manrico)
1913 Asti Teatro Alfieri Aida (Radames)
1914 Pavia Teatro Fraschini Trovatore (Manrico)
1915 Detroit Teatro Garrick Amore dei tre re (Avito)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 Pathé, Milano 1912?
Africaine (Meyerbeer): O paradiso 86299
Fanciulla del West (Puccini): Ch'ella mi creda 86305
Carmen (Bizet): Il fior 86301
Trovatore (Verdi): Di quella pira 86310

Romano Rasponi (Baritone) (Roma, Italia 1878 - ?)

Probably he made his debut in 1902 at the Teatro Sociale in  Cittadella as Marcello in ''Boheme''.

Chronology of some appearances

1902 Cittadella Teatro Sociale Boheme (Marcello)
1903 Alessandria  Teatro Finzi Lohengrin (Araldo)
1905 Udine Teatro Vittorio Emanuele Faust (Valentino)
1906 Ascoli Piceno Teatro Ventidio Basso Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro)
1908 Milano Teatro La Scala Cristoforo Colombo (Romeo)
1909 Foligno Teatro Piermarini Tosca (Scarpia)
1910 Milano Teatro La Scala Sansone e Dalila (Grande Sacerdote)
1911 Palermo  Teatro Massimo Aida (Amonasro)
1912 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Manon (Lescaut)
1914 Cremona  Teatro Ponchielli Tosca (Scarpia)
1917 Lucca Teatro Del Giglio Boheme (Marcello)
1919 Roma  Teatro Costanzi  Madama Butterfly (Sharpless)
1921 Livorno Teatro Avvalorati Amico Fritz (David)
1926 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Carmen (Morales)
1931 Roma Eiar Manon Lescaut (Lescaut)
1935 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Adriana Lecouvreur (Principe)
1940 Roma Eiar Fedora (Lorek/Borov)

RECORDING FOR SALE

Pathé, Milano 1912?
Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): Del tempio al limitar with Giorgini 86263