To round off the Wagner and Verdi bicentenary year, I’ve gathered a varied selection of music by these two operatic greats, in various guises.
Dajos Béla recorded extensively in many genres. The following abridged version of the Tannhäuser Overture is one of his more straightforwardly classical recordings, though the scoring is adapted for his band of the time – a piano can definitely be heard contributing.
Wagner – Tannhäuser – Overture (abridged)
Künstler-Kapella Dajos Béla
Wagner – Tannhäuser – Overture – Dajos Béla
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Odeon AA79816-7
Matrices xxBo 7551, 7552-II
Recorded 24th April 1923
Plays in A440 at 80rpm
Dan Godfrey has appeared here on many occasions, but this is the first time I’ve transferred anything by his eldest son, Dan Godfrey Jr. He very much followed in his father’s footsteps. He was appointed by the nascent BBC to conduct the 2LO Military Band with whom he recorded some 50 sides for the Edison Bell company, mostly arrangements of serious classical fare.
Wagner – The Rhinegold – Entry of the Gods into Valhalla
2LO Military Band, Dan Godfrey Jr
Wagner – Rhinegold – Entry of the Gods – 2LO Military Band, Godfrey Jr
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Winner 4112
Matrices 8921B-1, 8922B-1
Recorded and issued 1924
Plays in A452 at 80.3rpm
The Dresden-born Emil Enderlein (b 1887) started as a lyric tenor, before developing into a Heldentenor. He sang Walther in Die Meistersinger at Bayreuth in 1925, and Parsifal and the Götterdämmerung Siegfried at the Zoppot Forest Opera in 1927-28. After his Bayreuth performances he changed his stage name to Erik Enderlein, and continued to perform well into the 1930s. After retirement he worked as a singing teacher in Berlin. He recorded for Pathé, Parlophone, Polyphon and Polydor as Emil Enderlein, but this curious
piano accompanied account of two excerpts from the Ring cycle appeared on the Piccadilly label, an offshoot of the Metropole label. The recordings are likely to have been made in 1929 when he sang at Covent Garden.
Wagner – The Valkyrie – Spring Song
Wagner – Siegfried – Forging Song
Eric Enderlein, tenor with piano
Wagner – Valkyrie – Spring Song – Enderlein
Wagner – Siegfried – Forging Song – Enderlein
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Piccadilly No.5020
Matrices 1914, 1915
Recorded 1929
78.3rpm
The Carl Rosa Opera Company was a mainstay of opera in English from 1873 to 1960 (before being revived in 1997) performing in London and all round Britain. The selection from Lohengrin is conducted by Arthur Hammond (1904-1991) who joined the company in 1928, but by 1936 was working at Covent Garden. Imperial records were produced by the Crystalate company from 1920 to 1934, probably placing this record in the early 1930s. None of the soloists are named, but are likely to be Carl Rosa regulars of the period (but probably not among the top rank singers who were contracted to other recording companies.)
Wagner – Lohengrin – Vocal Selection
Arthur Hammond, Carl Rosa Orchestra, Carl Rosa Opera Company
Wagner – Lohengrin – vocal selection – Carl Rosa Co, Hammond
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Imperial Z 115
Matrices T.I. 146.A, 148.A
Recorded c1931-32
79.1rpm
The French tenor Paul Franz (1876-1950) was born François Gauthier in Paris. He did not train as a singer until he was almost 30, but soon was in demand across a wide repertoire.
Wagner – Tristan & Isolde – Ou Tristan va se rendre
Wagner – Le Crépuscule des Dieux – Mort de Siegfried
Paul Franz, tenor with Orchestra
Wagner – Tristan und Isolde – Ou Tristan va se rendre – Paul Franz
Wagner – Götterdämmerung – Siegfried’s Death – Paul Franz
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Pathé No.0286 (29cm, paper label, edge start)
Recording numbers 2376, 2494 R
Recorded c1919-20
Disc transfers 8th Jan 1924, 4th September 1924
73.1rpm, 76.5rpm
Borghild Bryhn-Langaard (1883-1939) was a Norwegian soprano, taught partly by Grieg’s wife Nina Hagerup. She sang the Rhinegold Fricka and Valkyrie Brünnhilde in Richter’s English Ring cycle at Covent Garden in 1908.
Wagner – Tannhäuser – Elizabeth’s Greeting
Wagner – Die fligende Holländer – Senta’s Ballad
Borghild Bryn (Borghild Lindvig Bryhn-Langaard), soprano with Orchestra
Wagner – Tannhäuser – Dich teurer Halle – Bryn
Wagner – Die fliegende Holländer – Senta’s Ballad – Bryn
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Pathé 729
Recording numbers 77198, 77201
Matrices 24198 G, 47320 GR
Recorded 1917-18, Berlin
Play in score pitch at 94.4rpm, 91.5rpm
The cellist W.H. Squire recorded extensively for the Gramophone Company and Columbia, with large works interspersed with lighter pieces or arrangements of standards.
Wagner – Tannhäuser – O Star of Eve
W.H. Squire, cello with piano
Wagner – Tannhäuser – O Star of Eve – WH Squire
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
His Master’s Voice 7886
Matrix ak 14731e
Recorded 5th January 1912, London
78.4rpm
Landon Ronald needs little introduction for those who know this site well. A Wagner celebration could not go by without including something from him.
Wagner – Götterdämmerung – Siegfried’s Funeral March
Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, Landon Ronald
Wagner – Götterdämmerung – Siegfried’s Funeral March – RAHO, Ronald
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
His Master’s Voice D 502
Matrices HO 4434af, 4433-IIaf (3-0529, 3-0530)
Recorded 11th June 1920, Hayes
79.6rpm
John Barbirolli is also a name that requires little introduction, and his later recordings are well known. But early efforts like this operatic selection have received less attention.
Wagner – Tannhäuser – Selection (arr Alfonso Gibilaro)
London Symphony Orchestra, John Barbirolli
Wagner – Tannhäuser – selection – LSO, Barbirolli
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
His Master’s Voice C 2293
Matrices 2B 1102-1, 1103-1 (32-2441, 32-2442)
Recorded 25th September 1931, Queen’s Hall, London
77.6rpm
The Zoppot Forest Opera ran from 1921 to 1944 in Sopot (now in Poland) and was known as the Bayreuth of the North. Many prominent singer and conductors performed there, though by 1942 when Siegfried and Die Meistersinger were performed, the singers were perhaps not such big names, but still acquit themselves well.
Wagner – Siegfried:
Siegfried und die Stimme des Waldvogels a.d. 2 Akt – Freundliches Vöglein, dich frage ich nun
Zwischenspiel a.d. 3 Akt
Berlin State Orchestra, Robert Heger
Heinz Kraayvanger, tenor.
Cova Wackers, soprano
Wagner – Siegfried – Woodbird scene – Kraayvanger, Wackers, Heger
Wagner – Siegfried – Interlude to Act 3 Scene 3 – Heger
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Polydor 67922
Matrices 1880½-GS9, 1891½-GS9
Recorded 18th June 1942 “Aufnahmen mit Künstlern der Zoppoter Waldoper 1942”
77.1rpm
Giuseppe Lenghi-Cellini, born in Italy in 1881 had a substantial career in Britain, performing in concerts and opera. He recorded extensively for Parlophone, but can also be heard on Regal and Piccadilly.
This particular record has a bad fracture affecting the first minute or so of each side.
Verdi – Il Trovatore – Ah si ben mio; Di quella pira
Giuseppe Lenghi Cellini, tenor with Orchestra
Verdi – Il Trovatore – Ah si ben mio – Lenghi-Cellini
Verdi – Il Trovatore – Di quella pira – Lenghi-Cellini
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Piccadilly No.5032
Matrices 3556-2, 3559
Recorded c1930
79.3rpm (Di quella pira transposed down a semitone)
Alick Maclean is a favourite conductor of mine, though few of his recordings have appeared here so far. He recorded extensively with the NQHLO, and also regularly conducted the Scarborough Spa Orchestra.
Verdi – Aida – Selection
The New Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra, Alick Maclean
Verdi – Aida – selection – NQHLO, Maclean
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Columbia L 1439
Matrices 75089-2, 75090-2
Recorded 11th May 1922, London
Available from 10/1922 to 2/1928
(Intended replacement on AX491-2; 492-2; recorded 2nd July 1924 conducted by Eugene Goossens II; test pressings made; but not issued)
80.3rpm
The shortlived British violinist Mary Law has appeared here before. These operatic fantasias were standard fare for her in the recording studios.
Verdi – Il Trovatore: Fantasia; La Traviata: Fantasia
Mary Law, violin with piano
Verdi – Trovatore fantasia – Mary Law
Verdi – Traviata fantasia – Mary Law
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Zonophone Record The Twin Serial A 177
Matrices AL 8350f, AL 8354f (Z-047919, Z-047920)
Recorded 8th June 1915, London
77.9rpm
Stanley Chapple was the house conductor for the Aeolian Vocalion company, conducting orchestral works, as well as substantial operatic excerpts like the following. As usual, the soloists are unnamed, though I suspect that Frank Titterton can be heard on the Rigoletto selections.
Verdi – Vocal Excerpts from “Il Trovatore”
Grand Opera Company, Soloists, Full Orchestra, Stanley Chapple
Verdi – Il Trovatore – vocal excerpts – Chapple
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Broadcast Twelve 5187-8
Matrices LO 733, 734, 735x, 736
Recorded 1930
79.0rpm
Verdi – Vocal Gems from “Rigoletto”
Grand Opera Company, Soloists, Full Orchestra, Stanley Chapple
Verdi – Rigoletto – vocal gems – Chapple
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Broadcast Twelve 3094
Matrices LO 1108x, 1109x
Recorded 1931-2
78.5rpm
This HMV issue of US Victor masters of vocal gems from Aida in English disguises under the heading of “Grand Opera Company” an ensemble that includes the young Richard Crooks as Radames.
Verdi – Aïda – Vocal Gems
Grand Opera Company
Della Baker, soprano
Elsie Baker, contralto
Stanley Baughman, baritone
Rose Bryant, contralto
Helen Clark, soprano
Richard Crooks, tenor
Frank Croxton, bass
Royal Dadmun, baritone
Charles H Hart, tenor
Vivian Holt, soprano
Judson House, tenor
Olive Kline, soprano
Lucy Isabelle Marsh, soprano
Lambert Murphy, tenor
Ruth Rodgers, soprano
Orchestra, Rosario Bourdon
Verdi – Aida – vocal gems – Bourdon
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
His Master’s Voice C 1605
Matrices CVE-13995-20, 13996-23
Recorded 13th July 1928, Liederkranz Hall, New York
76.3rpm
In 1902-3 the Anglo-Italian Commerce Company made a number of recordings in Milan for Pathé. The two excerpts here are from a Verdi rarity, I due Foscari, and are sung by an unnamed baritone.
Verdi – I due Foscari – O vecchio cor che batti; Questa dunque è
unnamed baritone with piano
Verdi – I due Foscari – O vecchio cor che batti – unnamed baritone
Verdi – I due Foscari – Questa dunque è – unnamed baritone
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Pathé 80098, 80874
Matrices 59089, 7555
Recorded c 1902-3, Milan
90.6rpm, 88.4rpm
France’s Garde Républicaine recorded extensively for many years for several companies. In Britain, the most comparable equivalent is the Coldstream Guards Band. These early operatic fantaisies have spoken introductions.
Verdi – Le Trouvère – Fantaisie
Garde Républicaine
Verdi – Le Trouvère – Fantaisie – Garde Républicaine
(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)
Odeon 33318/33319
Matrices 33318-2 x, 33319-3 x
Recorded c December 1904
76.1rpm
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