Mathew Edwardsen

CLASSIC AUDIO

For your enjoyment, here are some opera recordings from yesteryear! This section pays homage to some of the great opera forebears. Some of the files have been professionally transferred, while some were digitized directly from the original records with no processing whatsoever.

Take a journey into opera's past!

Heinrich Knote (1870-1953) was a tenor from Bavaria. He performed at the NY Metropolitan Opera from 1904 to 1908. The remainder of his career was spent in Munich, where he was known as one of the great Heldentenors.

Heinrich Knote performs Höchstes Vertrauen from Wagner's Lohengrin. (From Edison Gold Moulded Cylinder B-1 dated 1906.)

Risë Stevens' (1913 - ) career spanned from 1936 to 1961. This mezzo-soprano was a mainstay of the NY Metropolitan Opera for many years. She was especially noted for her Carmen, of which she performs here.

Risë Stevens performs Habañera (L'Amour est un oiseau rebelle) from Bizet's Carmen. (From Columbia 71192-D, Date unknown, but likely from the late 1940's or early 1950's.)

Ms Stevens performs Connais-tu le pays from Mignon. (From Columbia 71192-D. Date unknown, but likely from the late 1940's or early 1950's.)

Galli-Curci (1882-1963) was regarded as one of the best operatic coloratura sopranos of the early 20th century. She made her opera debut in 1908 and retired in 1930, convinced that opera's popularity was waning.

Schipa (1888-1965) made his opera debut in 1910 at Vercelli, Italy; performing there until traveling to the USA. He performed in Chicago until 1932, when he began performing at the NY Metropolitan Opera. He was there from 1932-1935, and again in 1941. He eventually became a conductor.

Amelita Galli-Curci and Tito Schipa perform Parigi o cara from Verdi's La traviata. (From RCA Victor 1754-B, date unknown.)

Amelita Galli-Curci and Tito Schipa perform Un di felice from Verdi's La traviata. (From RCA Victor 1754-A, date unknown.)

Claudia Muzio (1889-1936) was one of the most successful Italian operatic sopranos of the early 20th century. She made her operatic debut at Arezzo in 1910. Three years later she debuted at La Scala. In 1916 she began a six-year run at The Met. She was a fixture in Chicago from 1922 to 1932. Claudia died of heart failure at the age of 47.

Claudia Muzio performs Sei forse l'angelo fedele from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onégin. (From Edison Diamond Disc 82224-R dated 1921)

Florencio Constantino (1869-1919) was born in Spain. He began his operatic career at the age of 20 in Montevideo. After spending some years in South America he returned to Europe in 1896. His career took him from Spain, to South America, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, and even Csarist Russia. After much worldwide success, his career began a serious decline that culminated with his death in a Mexico City street - destitute and alone.

Florencio Constantino performs excerpt of Che gelida manina from Puccini's La Bohème. (From Edison Gold Moulded cylinder B-67 dated 1908)

Richard Tauber (1891-1948) was born in Linz, Austria on 16 May 1891. As a child, his voice failed to impress his vocal instructors. But he persevered and performed publicly for the first time at Freiburg in 1912. He was a renowned quick-study; learning the role of Bacchus in Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos in a mere afternoon for instance! In 1947 he developed lung cancer; one lung was useless, and the other nearly so. Despite this he sang the role of Don Ottavio from Don Giovanni on 27 September 1947. Recordings exist of this performance, and it is one of undiminished "focus and steadiness".

Richard Tauber performs Von Apfelblüten einen Kranz from Franz Lehar's operetta Das Land des Lächelns (The Land of Smiles). (From Columbia G-9042-M dated ca 1929) This recording is conducted by the composer himself

Vera Schwarz was born on 10 July 1891 in what is now Zagreb, Croatia and died on 4 December 1964 in Vienna.

Richard Tauber and Vera Schwarz perform Wer Hat die Liebe uns ins Herz gesenkt from Franz Lehar's operetta Das Land des Lächelns (The Land of Smiles). (From Columbia G-9042-M dated ca 1929) This recording is conducted by the composer himself. Tauber and Schwarz were two of the original performers of this work.

Lily Pons (1898-1976) was born in France, where she entertained troops in hospitals during WWI. She made her operatic debut there in Lakmé. She was eventually discovered and relocated to New York, where she began a 30 year run as a principal soprano at The Met. Her career took her around the world. She became a naturalized US citizen in 1940. Pons was known for her soaring high notes.

Lily Pons performs Où va la jeune Hindoue (Bell Song part 1) and Là Bas, dans la forêt (Bell Song - part 2) from Delibes' Lakmé.

John Charles Thomas (1891-1960), an American baritone, was born in Meyersdale, PA. He studied music at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. Thomas began his career in musical comedy, but transitioned to opera in 1924. He later sang with the Royal Opera, Brussels. He debuted at the NY Metropolitan Opera House in 1934 in Verdi's La Traviata.

John Charles Thomas performs Di Provenza il mar from Verdi's La Traviata. (From RCA Victor 7605-A, date unknown)

The Spanish born Lucrezia Bori (1887-1960) began her opera career in 1908. She studied under Vidal in Milan. She was known for her performances as Manon in Massenet's opera, Mimì in La bohème, Fiora in L' amore dei tre re, Mélisande in Pelléas et Mélisande and Violetta in La traviata. Lucrezia concluded her operatic career on 29 March 1936 to much fanfare at New York's Metropolitan Opera House after 654 performances. After retirement, she became chairman of the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

Lucrezia Bori performs Ah! fors'e lui from Verdi's La Traviata. (From 12" Edison Diamond Disc wax master 180-1, dated 1910)

Paola Koralek and Preste Benedetti perform La Giaconda. (From 12" Edison Diamond Disc test pressing 760-S-D, date 1911)

These early recordings were cut acoustically as opposed to later "electrical" recordings. The performers stood in front of large horns which focused the sound waves onto the cutting stylus.