Description

CARMEN MELIS (CAGLIARI, ITALY, 15 AUGUST, 1885 – LONGONE AL SEGRINO, ITALY, 19 DECEMBER, 1967)

 

 

 

 

She made her debut as Thaïs in Novara in 1905 and achieved great success in Naples the following year with Pietro Mascagni’s Iris. She also performed in Rome and toured Russia and Poland in 1907. From 1909 to 1913, Carmen Melis was part of Oscar Hammerstein’s company at the Manhattan Opera House in New York, where she was admired for her Latin temperament as well as her voice. In Boston, her roles included Desdemona and Helen of Troy, with the heroines of Giacomo Puccini at the center of her repertoire.

She appeared at Covent Garden in 1913, performing in Pagliacci and La Bohème with Enrico Caruso. On her return to Covent Garden in 1929, her voice had faded, resulting in an overplayed Musetta and an undersung Tosca. Despite this, she remained a favorite at La Scala, where she sang Ginevra in the premiere of Umberto Giordano’s La cena delle beffe in 1924, and in Buenos Aires, where she took on more unexpected roles such as the Marschallin and Sieglinde.

Later, she turned to teaching, with Renata Tebaldi among her pupils. Known primarily as a verismo soprano, Carmen Melis was one of the most compelling singing actresses of the early 20th century.

 

CHRONOLOGY OF APPEARANCES

 

1907 Roma Teatro Costanzi Boheme (Mimi)

1909 Philadelphia  Teatro dell’Opera Cavalleria Rusticana (Santuzza)

1910 New York  Teatro Manhattan Opera House Boheme (Mimi)

1910 Philadelphia  Philadelphia Opera House Boheme (Mimi)

1912 Boston  Opera House Boheme (Mimi)

1914 Bilbao Teatro Arriaga Boheme (Mimi)

1917 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)

1919 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)

1926 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Andrea Chenier (Maddalena)

1915 Genova  Politeama Genovese Boheme (Mimi)

1917 Modena  Teatro Storchi Boheme (Mimi)

1917 Santiago del Cile  Teatro Municipal Boheme (Mimi)

1918 Alessandria  Teatro Municipale Boheme (Mimi)

1918 Tortona  Teatro Civico Boheme (Mimi)

1919 Roma  Teatro Costanzi  Boheme (Mimi)

1919 Costantinopoli  Teatro Noveau Boheme (Mimi)

1920 Havana Teatro Nacional Carmen (Micaela)

1932 Padova Teatro Verdi Adriana Lecouvreur ( Adriana)

1932 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Adriana Lecouvreur ( Adriana)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Io son l’umile ancella 2195 Unpubl., Edison, New York
2. Aida (Verdi) Ritorna vincitor 575-C Unpubl., Edison, New York 1911-03-30
3. Albatro (Pacchierotti) La fata sei (w. Taccani) (orch Pacchierotti) 054137 1255c G&T, Milano 1907
4. Albatro (Pacchierotti) L’albatro teco (w. Taccani) (orch Pacchierotti) 054136 1247c G&T, Milano 1907
5. Albatro (Pacchierotti) Resta cosi nel fascino (orch Pacchierotti) 53508 10613b G&T, Milano 1907
6. Amico Fritz (Mascagni) Son pochi fiori 40039 Edison 4-min cylinders, New York 1910
7. Andrea Chenier (Giordano) La Mamma morta 69273 Xph 5168 Fonotipia, Milano 1917-02-07
8. Andrea Chenier (Giordano) Mamma morta 40027 Edison 4-min cylinders, New York 1910
9. Bohème (Puccini) Donde lieta usci 69206 XPh5101 Fonotipia, Milano 1917-02-06
10. Bohème (Puccini) Sì, mi chiamano Mimì 69205 XPh5100 Fonotipia, Milano 1917-02-02
11. Fedora (Giordano) O grandi occhi D9439 B122 Columbia, Milano 1923/1924
12. Fedora (Giordano) O grandi occhi 69274 Xph 5169 Fonotipia, Milano 1917-02-07
13. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Suicidio 1433 Unpubl., Edison, New York 1910
14. Hermes (Parelli) Figlio del mar (orch Parelli) 53507 10636b
15. Hermes (Parelli) Si, io t’amo (w. Taccani) (orch Parelli) 054138 1253c G&T, Milano 1907
16. Io son l’amore (Tosti) 1432-A Unpubl., Edison
17. Jana (Virgilio) Geddu alla triste casa (w. Taccani) (orch Virgilio) 054139 1266c G&T, Milano 1907
18. Jana (Virgilio) Mi sento in core (orch Virgilio) 53506 10670b G&T, Milano 1907