Description

LUCREZIA BORI (VALENCIA, SPAIN, 24 DECEMBER, 1887 – NEW YORK, USA, 14 MAY, 1960)

 

 

 

 

Her real name was Lucrezia Borja Gonzalés de Riancho. Her father was an officer. She first received her education at a monastery school in Spain, then studied piano and music theory at the Valencia Conservatory. Her voice was discovered during a trip to Italy in 1908, and she was trained by the educators Sibella and Melchiorre Vidal in Milan. That same year, she made her debut at the Teatro Adriano in Rome as Micaela in Carmen. The success of this debut led to her being contracted by the Teatro Alla Scala for the following season, where she sang the role of Carolina in Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto (1910). In 1911, she appeared in the premiere of Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier as Octavian, and later that year, she also performed in the premiere of Humperdinck’s Königskinder. Since 1910, she had been a frequent guest at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, where she again performed in the premiere of Königskinder under Toscanini in 1912. On August 14, 1914, at the Teatro Colón, she participated in the premiere of the opera El Sueño de Alma by Carlos López Buchardo. In 1913, she sang the role of Alice Ford in Falstaff and appeared as Violetta in La Traviata at the Verdi commemoration in his birthplace, Busseto.

She also made successful guest appearances in Paris (notably in 1910 with a guest performance of the Metropolitan Opera New York ensemble in Manon Lescaut opposite Enrico Caruso), as well as in Madrid and Barcelona. In 1912, she was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where she made her debut in Manon Lescaut alongside Enrico Caruso. In 1914, she performed in the premiere of Montemezzi’s L’amore dei tre re and the following year in the premiere of Leoni’s L’Oracolo. She also guested at the Boston Opera as Cio-Cio-San with sensational success.

Due to illness, she had to retire from the stage from 1915 to 1919. However, after a neck operation, she regained her voice through intensive study. In 1919, she resumed her career at the Monte Carlo Opera, where she sang the roles of Mimì in La Bohème and Zerlina in Don Giovanni. From 1919 to 1936, she was once again one of the great prima donnas of the Metropolitan Opera, opening her second engagement at the house in 1919 as Mimì in La Bohème. During the 1924-1931 seasons, she performed almost every year at the summer opera in Ravinia near Chicago, and during the 1933-1934 season, she also sang at the San Francisco Opera. She retired from the stage in 1936 and became the first woman to join the directorate of the Metropolitan Opera. From 1936 onward, she served as the chair of the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Edison 4-min cylinders, London 1910

Bohème (Puccini) Mi chiamano Mimì 40036 Edison 4-min cylinders, London 1910

Manon Lesacut (Puccini) In quelle trine morbide 40032 Edison 4-min cylinders, London 1910

 

Edison, London 1913

Don Pasquale (Donizetti) So anch’io 82508 Edison, London 1913

Gitana (Serrano) 82530 Edison, London 1913

Guardami! (Guagni) 82528 Edison, London 1913

Malagueña (Pagans) 80102 Edison, London 1913

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Voi che sapete 82502 Edison, London 1913

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Valse 82517 Edison, London 1913

Sonnambula (Bellini) Ah, non credea mirarti 82289 Edison, London 1913

Traviata (Verdi) Ah, fors’è lui 82539 Edison, London 1913

 

Edison, London/ New York 1910-1913 (Unpublished recordings)

Traviata (Verdi) È strano… Ah, fors’ è lui… Follie!… Sempre libera 180-S1 Mid-1910; London

Rigoletto (Verdi) Gualtier Maldè!… Caro nome 2218-B 9 April 1913; New York

Manon Lescaut (Puccini) In quelle trine morbide 192-A Mid-1910; London

Tosca (Puccini) Vissi d’arte 885-B August or September 1911; London

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Un bel dì vedremo 188-A Mid-1910; London

 

Victor, New York, 1914-1928

Amico Fritz (Mascagni) Non mi resta che il pianto (87372) B28624 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-09-28

Amico Fritz (Mascagni) Son pochi fiori (87371) B28622 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-09-28

Amico Fritz (Mascagni) Suzel, buon dì (w. Fleta) HRS1039  C29285  Victor, Camden NJ 1924-01-14

Amour Mouillé (Varney) Valse d’oiseau 1053 B30275 Victor, Camden NJ 1924-06-13

Amour Mouillé (Varney) Valse d’oiseau 1333 BVE30275-6 Victor, Camden NJ 1927-12-30

Bohème (Puccini) Donde lieta usci (Addio) 6561 CVE33476 Victor, New York 1925-11-21

Bohème (Puccini) Mi chiamano Mimì 6790 CVE14477-13 Victor, Camden NJ 1926-05-05

Bohème (Puccini) O soave fanciulla (w. McCormack) 87512 B14658 Victor, Camden NJ 1914-04-08

Bohème (Puccini) Quando me’n vo’ 1053 B28620 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-09-28

Bohème (Puccini) Quando me’n vo’ 1333 BVE28620-11 Victor, Camden NJ 1927-12-30

Bohème (Puccini) Sì, mi chiamano Mimì 88475 C14477 Victor, Camden NJ 1922-09-26

Bohème (Puccini) Sono andati…Oh, Dio, Mimi! (w. Schipa) 8068 8068 CVE33943 CVE33944 Victor, Camden NJ 1925-11-24

Calm as the night (Götze) (w. Tibbett) 1747 BVE38854 Victor, New York 1927-06-01

Carmen (Bizet) Parle-moi de ma mère (w. Fleta) HRS1039 C29286 Victor, Camden NJ 1924-01-14

Ciribiribin (Pestalozza) (87379) B28643 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-10-08

Ciribiribin (Pestalozza) 1262 BVE28643-8 Victor, Camden NJ 1927-05-27

Clavelitos (Valverde) 87217 B15823 Victor, Camden NJ 1915-03-23

Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) Barcarolle (w. Tibbett) 1747 BVE38855-3 Victor, New York 1927-06-01

Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) Elle à fui, la tourterelle 88525 C15825 Victor, Camden NJ 1915-03-23

Così fan tutte (Mozart) In uomini, in soldati 87346 B26471 Victor, Camden NJ 1922-05-12

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Vedrai carino 87333 B25145 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-11-23

Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Pronta io son (w. de Luca) 89161 C25297 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-11-02

Don Pasquale (Donizetti) Vado, corro (w. de Luca) 89162 C25296 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-11-02

El majo discreto (Granados) 1033 B28626 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-10-08

El puñao de rosas (Chapí) (w. de Segurola) 87225 B15903 Victor, New York 1915-04-16

G’schichten aus dem Wienerwald (Strauss) (It) 6699 CVE33960 Victor, Camden NJ 1927-05-27

I hear you calling me (Marshall) 87188 B14645 Victor, Camden NJ 1914-03-27

Il bacio (Arditi) (87380) B28619 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-10-08

Il bacio (Arditi) 1262 BVE28619-11 Victor, Camden NJ 1927-05-27

In the woods (Schumann) (w. McCormack) (3039) BVE34167 Victor, New York 1925-12-18

Iris (Mascagni) In pure stille 87219 B15904 Victor, New York 1915-04-16

Iris (Mascagni) Un dì al tempio 88524 C15824 Victor, Camden NJ 1915-03-23

La cruz de mayo (Font y de Anta) 1190 BVE33977 Victor, Camden NJ 1925-12-08

La danza (Rossini) 87181 B14439 Victor, Camden NJ 1914-02-12

La paloma (Yradier) 88480 C14644 Victor, Camden NJ 1914-03-27

La primavera d’or (Glazunov) 6699 CVE33959 Victor, Camden NJ 1925-12-02

La Revoltosa (Chapí) Porque de mis ojos (w. de Segurola) 88526 C15902 Victor, New York 1915-04-16

La violetera (Padilla) 1348 BVE45164 Victor, New York 1928-05-22

Lakmé (Delibes) Pourquoi dans les grands bois (87392) B28645 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-10-08

Louise (Charpentier) Depuis le jour 6561 CVE33475 Victor, Camden NJ 1925-12-02

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Un bel dì DB1644 CVE38061 Victor, Camden NJ 1928-01-04

Malagueña (Pagans) 87190 B14643 Victor, Camden NJ 1914-03-27

Manon (Massenet) Adieu, notre petite table (87391) B28621 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-10-08

Mignon (Thomas) Connais-tu le pays 1361 BVE45153 Victor, New York 1928-05-18

Mignon (Thomas) Me voici dans son boudoir (Gavotte) 1361 BVE45154 Victor, New York 1928-05-18

Milonguita (Delfino) 1033 B30276 Victor, Camden NJ 1924-06-13

Night hymn at sea (Goring Thomas) (w. McCormack) (3039) BVE34166 Victor, New York 1925-12-24

Niña pancha (Valverde) 87189 B14642 Victor, Camden NJ 1914-03-27

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Deh vieni, non tardar 88633 C25146 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-04-07

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Ballatella 88398 C14437 Victor, Camden NJ 1914-02-12

Patotero sentimental (Tango milonga) (Jovés) 1190 BVE33978 Victor, Camden NJ 1925-12-08

Rigoletto (Verdi) Bella figlia dell’amore (w. McCormack, Jacoby & Werrenrath) 89080 C14657 Victor, Camden NJ 1914-04-08

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Ah! ne fuis pas encore (w. Gigli) 87581 B27715 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-03-28

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Ange adorable (w. Gigli) (2-034033) C27714 Victor, Camden NJ 1923-03-28

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) Je veux vivre 87351 B26892 Victor, Camden NJ 1922-10-02

Segreto di Susanna (Wolf-Ferrari) Oh gioia, la nube leggera 88647 C25301 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-11-23

Seguidilla (arr Reimann) 1348 BVE45165 Victor, New York 1928-05-22

Simonetta (Rumbold) 1162 BVE33477 Victor, Camden NJ 1925-12-08

Snegourotchka (Rimsky-Korsakov) Je connais, je connais ma mère 87356 B26899 Victor, Camden NJ 1922-10-02

The little damozel (Novello) 1162 BVE33478 Victor, New York 1925-11-21

Traviata (Verdi) Addio del passato 87178 B14438 Victor, Camden NJ 1914-02-12

Traviata (Verdi) Ah, fors’è lui… Sempre libera 7438, 11-8569, CVE41441-3, CVE41442-1 Victor, New York 1928-06-20, 1928-01-04

Traviata (Verdi) Parigi o cara (w. McCormack) 88453 C14686 Victor, Camden NJ 1914-04-08

Villanella (Sibella) 87328 B25321 Victor, Camden NJ 1921-05-27

When love is kind (trad) 87344 B26472 Victor, Camden NJ 1922-05-12

 

Victor, New York 1937

Aria de Acis y Galatea (Literes) George Copeland (piano) Victor 2201 BS-017092 11-19-1937

Canto andaluz (Nin) George Copeland (piano) Victor Unpubl. BS-017715 12-14-1937

Consejo (Obradors) George Copeland (piano) Victor 1978 BS-017093 11-19-1937

Coplas de curro dulce (Obradors) Romophone 81017 BS-017712 12-14-1937

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Batti, batti, o bel Masetto Victor 14614 CS-011414  7-22-1937

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Vedrai, carino Victor 1846 BS-011715 8-13-1937

El jilguerito con pico de oro (de Laserna) George Copeland (piano) Victor 2201 BS-017091 11-19-1937

Il segreto di Susanna (Wolf-Ferrari) Gioia, la nube leggera Victor 14616  CS-011417 7-22-1937

La rondine (Puccini) Ore dolci e divine Victor 14615 CS-011717  8-13-1937

La vida breve (De Falla) Vivan los que rien Victor 14615  CS-01171 8-13-1937

Malagueña (Nin) George Copeland (piano) Victor 1984 BS-017094 11-19-1937

Manon (Massenet) Adieu notre petite table Victor 14616 CS-011718 8-13-1937

Manon Gavotte (Massenet) Obéissons quand leur voix appelle Victor 1846 BS-011416 7-22-1937

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Giunse al fin il momento Deh vieni non tardar Victor 14614 CS-011415 7-22-1937

Sequidilla (No. 2 from Siete canciónes populares españolas) (de Falla) George Copeland (piano) Victor 1984 BS-017095 11-19-1937

Jota Tortosina (Nin) George Copeland Victor 1984 BS-017095 11-19-1937

Siete canciónes populares españolas (de Falla) Jota George Copeland (piano) Victor 1978 BS-017090 11-19-1937