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SOPRANO FRANCES ALDA

AMERICAN SOPRANO FRANCES ALDA (1883-1952) 4 CDR

$90.00

FRANCES ALDA (CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND, 31 MAY, 1883 – VENEZIA, ITALY, 18 SEPTEMBER, 1952)            Alda was born Fanny Jane Davis in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 31 May 1879 to David Davis and Leonore Simonsen. Leonore, a promising singer from a musical family, in September 1880 divorced David to resume her singing…

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FRANCES ALDA (CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND, 31 MAY, 1883 – VENEZIA, ITALY, 18 SEPTEMBER, 1952)

 

 

 

    

Alda was born Fanny Jane Davis in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 31 May 1879 to David Davis and Leonore Simonsen. Leonore, a promising singer from a musical family, in September 1880 divorced David to resume her singing career. Fanny spent her early years traveling with her mother on her operatic tours. After false starts in Australasia, she took Fanny and her younger brother to San Francisco, California in 1883. Leonore Davis remarried but died of peritonitis in San Francisco on 29 December 1884, shortly after remarrying, to Herman Adler. After her mother’s death, Alda was sent to live with her maternal grandparents, Martin and Fanny Simonsen, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She sang in productions of Gilbert and Sullivan in Melbourne before leaving Australia for Europe at the age of 22 in order to undertake additional study and pursue an international singing career like her future soprano rival Nellie Melba. After receiving lessons in Paris from the renowned teacher Mathilde Marchesi, who gave her her stage name, Alda made her debut at the Opéra-Comique in 1904 in Massenet’s Manon. She appeared at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in 1906, and at La Scala, Milan, during the 1906-08 seasons. In 1908, the former La Scala impresario Giulio Gatti-Casazza became director of the Metropolitan Opera. On 7 December 1908 Alda made her debut there. On 4 April 1910, Alda and Gatti-Casazza married. According to American Art News (New York, 19 March 1910), Adolfo Müller-Ury was painting Alda just before her marriage. It was in New York that Alda furthered her career, appearing to acclaim in such famous operas as Martha, Manon Lescaut, Otello, Faust, Mefistofele and La bohème. She began recording for the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1908 and several of her records became best-sellers. She created the title roles in Victor Herbert’s Madeleine and Henry Hadley’s Cleopatra’s Night as well as Roxane in Walter Damrosch’s Cyrano. She also sang regularly with Enrico Caruso. Alda toured Australia and New Zealand in 1927. She and Gatti-Casazza separated the following year and then divorced. In 1929, she left the Met but continued to give concerts, make radio broadcasts and appear in vaudeville. Alda’s 1937 autobiography was titled Men, Women, & Tenors. On 14 April 1941 in Charleston, South Carolina, she married Manhattan, New York City advertising executive Ray Vir Den; he was a decade younger than she. She would have an affluent retirement in Long Island, and traveling. She died of a stroke (some sources cite cerebral hemorrhage) on 18 September 1952 in Venice, Italy, aged 73.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1904 Paris Opéra-Comique

1906 London Covent Garden

1907 Milan La Scala

1908 New York Metropolitan Opera

 

TRACKLIST

 

  

  1. Rule Britannia (Arne) 64692 B19892-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-05-24
  2. Lakmé (Delibes): Dans la forêt 64715 B19891-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-05-24
  3. The big show (Hubbell): Poor Butterfly 64653 B19187-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-02-16
  4. The Star (Rogers) 64658 B19119-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-01-24
  5. Bohème (Puccini): Mi chiamano Mimì 74448 C8885-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1915-07-15
  6. Angel’s serenade (Braga) (violin: Elman) 88523 C15795-1 Victor, New York 1915-03-15
  7. Ave Maria (Gounod) (violin: Elman) 88522 C15794-1 Victor, New York 1915-03-15
  8. Carmen (Bizet): Je dis que rien 74353 C14496-2 Victor, New York 1914-12-10
  9. Chanson d’amour (Hollman) (violin: Elman) 88521 C15792-1 Victor, New York 1915-03-15
  10. Somewhere a voice is calling (Tate) 64654 B19120-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-02-16
  11. A Maori slumber song (Nine e nine!) (Te Rangi Pai) (w. piano) 1330 BVE43185-1 Victor, New York 1928-03-28
  12. As you were (Darewski) If you could care 64859 B23506-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1919-12-01
  13. Bohème (Puccini) Donde lieta usci (Addio) (64417), AGSA14 1914-02-20
  14. But lately in the dance (Arensky) 64338 B13082-2 Victor, New York 1913-04-07
  15. By the Waters of Minnetonka (Lieurance) 527 B24119-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1920-05-17
  16. Carissima (Penn) 897 B25571-5 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-12-13
  17. Coming home (Willeby) 946 B28103-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-06-07
  18. Cradle song (Humperdinck) 87090 B10189-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1911-04-14
  19. Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach): Ella a fui 88399 C12559-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1912-11-04
  20. Daddy (Behrend) 897 B27369-7 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-01-18
  21. Deep River (trad, arr Fisher) (w. Orpheus Qt Macdonough, Murphy, Hooley & Werrenrath) 527 B19121-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-07-20
  22. Ever of Thee I’m fondly dreaming (Hall) 1176 BVE35483-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1926-06-08
  23. Every bit of loving in the world (Novello) 66056 B25570-6 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-12-13
  24. Falstaff (Verdi) Sul fil d’un soffio etesio 88247 C8883-1 Victor, New York 1910-04-25
  25. For your country and my country (Berlin) 64689 B19893-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-05-24
  1. Gianni Schicchi (Puccini) O mio babbino caro HMV 7-53033 AGSA14 1919-02-11
  2. I heard you go by (Wood) 1005 B29492-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1924-02-20
  3. I love you truly (Jacobs-Bond) 531 B19186-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-02-16
  4. I passed by your window (Brahe) 64948 B24780-4 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-02-25
  5. I’d build a world in the heart of a rose (Nicholls) 64893 B24118-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1920-05-17
  6. If God left only you (Densmore) 1148 BVE29490-4 Victor, Camden NJ 1925-05-19
  7. If winter comes (Tennent) 525 B27596-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-03-08
  8. Ich liebe dich (Beethoven) 87117 B12561-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1912-11-04
  9. Just-a-wearying for you (Jacobs-Bond) 531 B19188-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-02-16
  10. La Marseillaise (de l’Isle) (w. chorus) 64693 B19972-2 Victor, New York 1917-06-01
  11. Laddie in Khaki (Novello) 64781 B21772-2 Victor, New York 1918-04-16
  12. Laddie o’ mine (Krams) 64779 B21769-2 Victor, New York 1918-04-16
  13. Lombardi (Verdi) Qual voluttà (w. Caruso & Journet) Gramophone 2-054029 78542
  14. Loreley (Catalani) Ah, dunque ei m’amera 88325 C11150-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1912-04-04
  15. Love has a way (Schertzinger) 1032 B30271-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1924-06-12
  16. Madeleine (Herbert): A perfect day 74385 C14498-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1914-02-20
  17. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Ancora un passo 64334 B13108-2 Victor, New York 1913-04-10
  18. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Un bel dì 74335 C13109-1 Victor, New York 1913-04-10
  19. Manon Lescaut (Puccini): In quelle trine morbide 87106 B11152-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1912-04-04
  20. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) In quelle trine morbide AGSA8 (40-2419) New York 1928-06-26
  21. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) L’ora o Tirsi (40-2420), AGSA8 New York 1928-03-06
  22. Manon (Massenet): Obeissons, quand leur voix appelle (Gavotte) 87111, B12563-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1912-11-04
  23. Martha (Flotow) Che vuol dir ciò (w. Jacoby, Caruso & Journet) 2-054031 78529
  24. Martha (Flotow) Dormi pur (w. Jacoby, Caruso & Journet) Gramophone 2-054037 78531
  25. Martha (Flotow) Siam giunti (w. Jacoby, Caruso & Journet) Gramophone 2-054030 78528
  1. Martha (Flotow): Presto, presto (w. Jacoby, Caruso & Journet) 95209 C11439-1 Victor, New York 1912-01-07
  2. Memory’s garden (Denni) 946 B28104-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-06-08
  3. Mighty lak’ a rose (Nevin) 64308 B16087-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1915-07-15
  4. Mother of my heart (Grey) 536 B24962-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-02-25
  5. Morgen (R Strauss) 64339 B13085-2 Victor, New York 1913-04-07
  6. Murmuring zephyrs (Jensen) 87118 B12564-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1912-11-04
  7. Nobody else (Penn) 1148 BVE34563-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1926-02-12
  8. Oh! Si les fleurs avaient des yeux (Massenet) (w. orch) 87066 B8887-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1911-04-14
  9. Oh! Si les fleurs avaient des yeux (Massenet) (w. piano) 87066 B8887-1 Victor, New York 1910-04-25
  10. Otello (Verdi) Ave Maria 88213 C8578-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1910-01-25
  11. Otello (Verdi) Salce, salce 88214 C8577-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1910-01-25
  12. Ouvre tes yeux bleus (Massenet) 64451 B14741-2 Victor, New York 1914-04-22
  13. Panis angelicus (Franck) 74399 C14690-1 Victor, New York 1914-04-09
  14. Romance (Debussy) 87096 B11151-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1912-04-04
  15. Sari (Kálmán): Love’s own sweet song 74401 C14740-1 Victor, New York 1914-04-22
  16. Serenata (Tosti) 88248 C8886-1 Victor, New York 1910-04-25
  17. Simple aveu (Love token) (Thome) 64675 B19189-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-02-16
  18. Sing me love’s lullaby (Morse) 64716 B19894-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1917-05-24
  19. Solitude (Melody in F) (Rubinstein) 64450 B14689-1 Victor, New York 1914-04-09
  20. Somewhere a voice is calling (Tate) 1189 BVE19120-5 Victor, Camden NJ 1926-06-08
  21. Sorter miss you (Smith) 64780 B21770-1 Victor, New York 1918-04-16
  22. Segreto di Susanna (Wolf-Ferrari): O Gioia 74388 C14495-1
  23. Tes yeux (Rabey) (violin Elman) 87216 B15793-1 Victor, New York 1915-03-15
  24. Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d’arte 74400 C14696-3 Victor, New York 1914-04-22
  25. The Bell’s of St Mary’s (Adams) 1176 BVE23505-6 Victor, Camden NJ 1926-06-09
  1. The Bells of St Mary’s (Adams) 64844 B23505-3 Victor, Camden NJ 1919-12-01
  2. The Cuckoo (Lehmann) 87086 B10190-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1911-10-30
  3. The magic of your eyes (Penn) 64782 B21771-2 Victor, New York 1918-04-16
  4. The new Music Box revue (Berlin) What’ll I do 1032 B30270-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1924-06-12
  5. The singer (Maxwell) 66093 B24961-10 Victor, Camden NJ 1922-06-07
  6. The birth of morn (Leoni) 87116 B12560-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1912-11-04
  7. Thoughts of you (Novello) 64927 B23507-7 Victor, Camden NJ 1920-10-04
  8. Trovatore (Verdi) Miserere (w. Caruso & chorus) Gramophone 2-054007 78518
  9. Vale (Russell) 1005 B27595-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-03-08
  10. Waiata Maori (arr Hill) (w. piano) 1330 BVE43186-2 Victor, New York 1928-03-28
  11. Wally (Catalani) Ebben ne andrò lontana 537 B24120-4 Victor, Camden NJ 1920-10-04
  12. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Tutti i fior (w. Braslau) 88597 C22244-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1918-09-20
  13. Bohème (Puccini): O soave fanciulla (w. Martinelli) 88598 C22245-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1918-09-20
  14. Madama Butterfly (Puccini): O quanti occhi fisi (w. Martinelli) 89163, C22246-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1918-09-20
  15. As you were (Darewski): If you could care 64859 B23506-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1919-12-01
  16. Mefistofele (Boito): L’altra notte 74651 C24609-1 Victor, Camden NJ 1920-10-04
  17. An open secret (Woodman) 64960, B24781-4 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-02-25
  18. Bless you (Novello) 66027 B25901-2 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-12-13
  19. Guillaume Tell (Rossini): Selva opaca 66134 B27368-7 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-01-18
  20. Please, keep out of my dreams (Maxwell) 1094 BVE31815-5 Victor, Camden NJ 1925-05-20

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