Aeolian Vocalion records are the source for a quintet of vocal recordings in time for Christmas. They also serve as a little coda to the pile of Carmen recordings that I posted here in October. The English-born contralto, Marguerite d’Alvarez, sings Silent Night, and then the Habanera from Carmen, and, with tenor Giulio Crimi, “Ai nostri monti” from Verdi’s Il Trovatore. This is followed by two more recordings from the same works – baritone George Baker, in a lesser known corner of his discography, made a number of operatic sides for Aeolian Vocalion.

Gruber – Silent Night, Holy Night
Orchestra
Marguerite d’Alvarez, contralto

Gruber – Silent Night – d’Alvarez

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

Aeolian Vocalion C-01054 (12” single-side)
Matrix AM 7619
Recorded June 1921
Play at 78.4rpm

Bizet – Carmen – Habanera
Orchestra
Marguerite d’Alvarez, contralto
Verdi – Il Trovatore – Ai nostri monti
Orchestra
Marguerite d’Alvarez, contralto
Giulio Crimi, tenor

Bizet – Carmen – Habanera – d’Alvarez

Verdi – Il Trovatore – Ai nostri monti – d’Alvarez, Crimi

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

Aeolian Vocalion A-0200 (12” double-side)
Matrices AM 5151, AM 7359
Recorded 1920?, April 1921
Play at 78.5rpm and 77.9rpm respectively

Bizet – Carmen – Toreador Song
Orchestra
George Baker, baritone

Bizet – Carmen – Toreador Song – Baker

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

Aeolian Vocalion C-01004 (12” single-side)
Matrix 01576
Recorded c1920
Play at 81.8rpm for score pitch

The record label says “in Italian”, but Baker is singing in English.

Verdi – Il Trovatore – The tempest of the Heart (Il Balen)
Orchestra
George Baker, baritone

Verdi – Il Trovatore – Il balen – Baker

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

Aeolian Vocalion C-01005 (12” single-side)
Matrix 01593
Recorded c1920
Play at 81.8rpm to play in A flat major (a tone below score pitch)