| This disc accompanies the book of the same name, written by Nigel Douglas. It and a later volume were originally published by André Deutsch. Note: Volume 1 & Volume 2 are no longer available from the publisher but copies are still available through online retailers. The singers who I have written about in Legendary Voices are all artists who, for one reason or another are particular favourites of mine. Some of them I heard in the flesh, some were known to me personally, others I only know from recordings, but all of them hold a special place in my affections. In the book I try to draw protarits of them as people; this disc presents them in their most essential guise - as singers. Nigel Douglas |
“Nigel Douglas's book Legendary Voices (Deutsch: 1992) gives engagingly appreciative accounts of 14 favourite singers, coupling a biographical sketch, and sometimes personal reminiscences, with a survey of their recordings... and now, lucky man, he has had it illustrated in the best possible way with a well-chosen anthology on CD. The transfers are representative examples of the Nimbus method: they have a generous bloom, are often startlingly vivid, and derive from immaculate originals. Most of the items are well known, but some will perhaps come as a pleasant surprise …”
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- 1 Luisa Tetrazzini (1871 - 1940)
LA SONNAMBULA, Bellini, Ah! non giunge 3.08
Rec: 18 March 1911 Matrix: C 10076-1 Victor Cat: 88313
2 Enrico Caruso (1873 - 1921)
LO SCHIAVO, Gomez, Qui fortuna insistenza ... Quando nascesti tu 4.16
Rec: 19 November 1911 Matrix: C11273-2 Victor Cat: 88345
3 Rosa Ponselle (1897 - 1981)
TOSCA, Puccini, Vissi d'arte 3.18
Rec: 7 January 1919 Matrix: 49569-5 Columbia Cat: 68059D with orchestra conducted by Romano Romani
4 Rosa Ponselle
MADEMOISELLE MODISTE, Herbert, Kiss me again 4.11
Rec: 26 July 1920 Matrix: 49869-2 Columbia Cat: 68077D with orchestra conducted by Romano Romani
5 Tito Schipa (1889 - 1965)
MIGNON, Thomas, Elle ne croyait pas [Sung in Italian] 4.26
Rec: 14 May 1924 Matrix: C30079-3 Victor Cat: 6465-B
6 Giuseppe de Luca (1876 - 1950), Grace Anthony (soprano)
RIGOLETTO, Verdi, Povero Rigoletto... Cortigiani, vil razza dannata 8.21
Rec: 29 Nov 1927/5 Apr 1928 Matrix: CVE 41075-2/43616-1 Victor Cat: 8161
Metropolitan Opera House Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Giulio Setti
7 Eva Turner (1892 - 1990)
AIDA, Verdi, Ritorna vincitor 6.38
Rec: 1928 Matrix: 3931-2/3 Columbia Cat: L2150 with orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham
8 Alfred Piccaver (1884 - 1958)
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, Mascagni, Addio alla madre 3.21
Rec: c.1929 Matrix: 1612 BM Polydor Cat: 66890 with orchestra conducted by Manfred Gurlitt
9 Ezio Pinza (1892 - 1957)
ERNANI, Verdi, Infelice! e tu credevi 3.20
Rec: 7 May 1929 Matrix: CVE 51978-2 Victor Cat: 7552-B with orchestra conducted by Rosario Bourdon
10 Alexander Kipnis (1891 - 1978)
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, Mozart, In diesen heil'gen Hallen 4.33
Rec: 14 April 1930 Matrix: CLR 6262-2 HMV Cat: DB 1551 Berlin State Opera Orchestra, Erich Orthmann conductor
11 Alexander Kipnis (1891 - 1978)
Schubert, Erlkönig 4.04
Rec: 20 November 1936 Matrix: CAX 7867-2 Columbia Cat: 9128M Gerald Moore piano
12 Lotte Lehmann (1888 - 1976)
Schumann, Die Lotosblume 2.19
Rec: 25 April 1932 Matrix: BE 9910 Odeon Cat: 0-4839 A Odeon-Kammer Orchestra
13 Lotte Lehmann
DIE WALKÜRE, Wagner, Du bist der Lenz 2.04
Rec: 20/22 June 1935 Matrix: 2VH107-1 HMV Cat: DB 2642 Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Bruno Walter conductor
14 Kirsten Flagstad (1895 - 1962)
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, Wagner, Liebestod 7.48
Rec: 9 October 1935 Matrix: CS 95355-1/6-1 Victor Cat: 8859-A/B with orchestra conducted by Hans Lange
15 Jussi Björling (1911 - 1960)
LA GIOCONDA, Ponchielli, Cielo e mar 4.23
Rec: 3 September 1937 Matrix: 2SB 570-2 HMV Cat: DB 3302 with orchestra conducted by Nils Grevillius
16 Jussi Björling
DER BETTELSTUDENT, Millöcker, Ich hab' kein Geld, bin vogelfrei [Sung in Swedish] 1.51
Rec: 28 April 1938 Matrix: OSB 743-4 HMV Cat: X 6090 with orchestra conducted by Nils Grevillius
17 Tito Gobbi (1913 - 1984)
L'ARLESIANA, Cilea, Come due tizzi accesi 4.09
Rec: July 1942 Matrix: 2BA 5146-2 HMV Cat: DB 5400 Orchestra of La Scala, Milan, Umberto Berrettoni conductor
18 Fritz Wunderlich (1930 - 1966)
EUGENE ONEGIN, Tchaikovsky, Wohin, wohin bist du entschwunden 6.35
Rec: November/December 1962 Bavarian State Orchestra, Meinhard von Zallinger conductor
(with kind permission of EMI Classics, Germany)
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