Description

BLANCHE MARCHESI (MEZZO-SOPRANO) (PARIS, FRANCE, 4 APRIL, 1863 – LONDON, ENGLAND, 15 DECEMBER, 1940)

 

 

 

 

She was the daughter of the distinguished Italian baritone and teacher Salvatore Marchesi de Castrorie (1822-1908) and the famous German mezzo-soprano and pedagogue Mathilde (née Graumann) Marchesi de Castrone (1821-1913). After studying violin, she turned to vocal training with her mother.  She began her career singing in private and charity concerts in Paris, and then appeared in Berlin and Brussels in 1895. On June 19, 1896, she made her London debut in a concert and made England her home. In 1900 she made her operatic debut as Brünnhilde in Die Walkure in Prague, and then returned to England to sing with the Moody-Manners Company. In 1902 she appeared at London’s Covent Garden as Elisabeth, Elsa, and Isolde. For the most part, however, she pursued a career on the concert stage. Later she was also active as a teacher. She made her farewell concert appearance in 1938. She published memoir A Singer’s Pilgrimage (London, 1923), and the didactic volume The Singer’s Catechism (London, 1932).

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1900 Prag Deutschen Theater Walküre (Brünnhilde)

1902 London Covent Garden Tannhäuser (Elisabeth)

1902 London Covent Garden Lohengrin (Elsa)

1902 London Covent Garden Tristan und Isolde (Isolde)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Tosca (Puccini) Vissi d’arte 53440 4133h G&T, Berlin 1906
2. Bist du bei mir (Bach) 43756 4138h, G&T, Berlin 1906
3. Eiapopeia (alt deutsch) 43755 4137h G&T, Berlin 1906
4. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Voi lo sapete 53441 4135h G&T, Berlin 1906
5. In Mai (Goldschmidt) 43754 4136h G&T, Berlin 1906
6. L’été (Chaminade) 33593 4132h G&T, Berlin 1906
7. Se saran rose (Arditi) 53439 4134h G&T, Berlin 1906
8. Maria Wiegenlied (Reger); Sne (Lie) JH21 TTP1283 HMV, London 1936-10
9. Queen Anne Boleyn in Prison (arr Dolmetch) JH10, TTP1166 HMV, London 1936
10. Dido and Aeneas (Purcell) When I am laid in eath JH9 TTP853-2 HMV, London 1936
11. Sicilian cart Driver’s song (arr Sadero) JH9 TTP854-1 HMV, London 1936
12. Der heilige Josef singt (Wolf); La lettre (Moret) JG41, TPX5377-1 HMV, London 1937-12-21
13. Hercules (Händel) My father! JG41 TPX5376-1 HMV, London 1937-12-21