Lorenzo Molajoli

In the mid to late 1920s Lorenzo Molajoli was for Columbia’s Italian arm what Carlo Sabajno was for the Gramophone Company. He’s best remembered now for the complete operas he recorded for Columbia with Milanese forces. He did however record a number of smaller works – overtures, operatic excerpts, and so on. On this Regal electrical he remains uncredited on the label. The “Classic Symphony Orchestra” was a standard Regal nom de disque, disguising a variety of performers, most frequently UK Columbia’s house band under the direction of Clarence Raybould.

Many of the recordings listed below (not including Nabucco and Carmen overtures and the Dance of the Hours) are available in new remasterings on CRQ Editions CD 120.

Rossini – Semiramide – Overture
Mascagni – Cavalleria Rusticana – Intermezzo

Milan Symphony Orchestra, Lorenzo Molajoli

Columbia 9663-4
Matrices WBX 174-1, 175-1, 182-3, 223-2 (8258, 8257, 8263, 8663)
Recorded 2nd November 1927, Milan
Available from March 1929 to April 1941

Verdi – Nabucco – Overture
Bizet – Carmen – Prelude Act 1
Milan Symphony Orchestra, Lorenzo Molajoli

Verdi – Nabucco – Overture – Molajoli

Bizet – Carmen – Prelude Act 1 – Molajoli

(mp3 files – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)

Columbia D 12274-5 (in album)
Matrices WB 1632, 1633, 1634 (30129, 30125, 30124), WB 1730 (30526)
Recorded 3rd November 1927 (Verdi), 19th November 1927 (Bizet), Milan
Verdi plays in score pitch at 75.2rpm, Bizet at 76.9rpm

Rossini – Il Barbiere di Siviglia – Overture
Milan Symphony Orchestra, Lorenzo Molajoli
credited on label as Classic Symphony Orchestra

Regal G 1066 (12″)
Matrices WBX 204-2, 205-1 (8335, 8333)
Recorded 21st November 1927
Available from June 1929 to March 1941

Cimarosa – Il Matrimonio Segreto – Overture
Milan Symphony Orchestra, Lorenzo Molajoli

Columbia 9695
Matrices WBX 207-2, 208-1 (8331, 8332)
Recorded 24th November 1927, Milan
Available from mid-April 1929 to January 1940

Mascagni – Le Maschere – Sinfonia
Milan Symphony Orchestra, Lorenzo Molajoli

Columbia 9472
Matrices WBX 294-2, 295-1 (9563, 9564)
Recorded 15th May 1928, Milan
Available from mid-October 1928 to January 1940

Respighi – The Fountains of Rome

1. The Fountain of the Julian Valley at Dawn
2. The Triton Fountain at Morn
3. The Fountain of Trevi at Mid-Day
4. The Villa Medici Fountain at Sunset

Milan Symphony Orchestra, Lorenzo Molajoli

Columbia 9833-4
Matrices WBX 331-1, 335-2, 346-2, 349-2 (10956, 10957, 10964, 10965)
Recorded 28th September, 1st , 4th , 5th October 1928, Milan
Available from September 1929 to January 1940

Ponchielli – La Gioconda – Dance of the Hours
Milan Symphony Orchestra, Lorenzo Molajoli

Columbia DX 11
Matrices WBX 420-1, 421-1 (11473, ?)
Recorded late 1928?, Milan

Gounod – Faust – Prelude & Valse
Milan Symphony Orchestra, Lorenzo Molajoli

Columbia 9878
Matrices WBX 464-1, 463-2 (11891, 11890)
Recorded 22nd January 1929, Milan
Available from October 1929 to April 1941

Bellini – Norma – Overture
Milan Symphony Orchestra, Lorenzo Molajoli

Columbia DB 74
Matrices WB 1552, 1553 (29984, 29985)
Recorded c1930

Rossini – La Cenerentola – Overture
Milan Symphony Orchestra, Lorenzo Molajoli

Columbia DX 704
Matrices CBX 1350-1, 1351-2
Recorded 1930s, Milan

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