Description

MEDEA MEI-FIGNER (FLORENCE, 4 MARCH, 1859 – PARIS, 8 JULY, 1952)

She made her debut in Sinaluga, Italy as Azucena in ‘’Il Trovatore’’. She had a successful career in Europe and South America. During her appearances in Milan she met her future husband, Russian tenor Nicolai Figner (1856-1919). They both joined the Imperial Opera in St. Petersburg, where they had highly regarded careers. Tchaikovsky, a friend of the Figners, wrote part of his opera ‘’The Queen of Spades’’ at their residence. The couple appeared in the 1890 world premiere of that work, Medea as Lisa and Nicolai as Hermann. At the Imperial Opera she and her husband also created roles in ‘’Iolanthe’’ (1892), and Napravnik’s ‘’Doubrovsky’’ (1895) and ‘’Francesca da Rimini’’ (1902). The Figners were divorced in 1904; and after the Revolution (1919) she left Russia and lived permanently in Paris. She sang opposite Julian Gayarre (1844 –1890).

Chronology of some appearances

1882 Nice Teatro Municipal Rigoletto (Gilda)

1882 Madrid Teatro Lirico Rigoletto (Gilda)

1884 Montevideo Teatro Solis Favorita (Leonora)

1885 Bergamo Teatro Riccardi Favorita (Leonora)

1903 Montevideo Teatro Solis Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana)

1903 Buenos Ayres Teatro dell’Opera Tosca (Tosca) opposite Enrico Caruso

1910 San Pietroburgo Teatro Conservatorio Favorita (Leonora)

TRACKLIST

1. Penso (Tosti) 23122  296x-D-Z2 G&T, St Petersburg 1901
2. Night  (Rubinstein) 23123 297x  G&T, St Petersburg 1901
3. Werther (Massenet): Air des larmes  23124 298x-F-Z2 G&T, St Petersburg 1901
4. Carmen (Bizet): Habanera 23125 299x G&T, St Petersburg 1901
5. Carmen (Bizet): Chanson Boheme 23131 300x-F-22 G&T, St Petersburg 1901
6. Night love and moon (Davidov) 23132 338x-D-2z G&T, St Petersburg 1901
7. Fior che langue (Rotoli) 23133 339x-D-2z  G&T, St Petersburg 1901
8. Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d’arte 23134 341x-D-2z  G&T, St Petersburg 1901
9. Pique Dame (Tchaikovsky): Lisa’s aria 23135 342x-D-2z G&T, St Petersburg 1901
10. Le Crucifix (J.-B. Faure) with Nikolai Figner 24057 369x G&T, St Petersburg 1901
11. Do not tempt me needlessly (Glinka) with Nikolai Figner 24058 370x-No-2z G&T, St Petersburg 1901
12. Seagull’s cry (Grodsky) with Nikolai Figner 24059 371x G&T, St Petersburg 1901
13. Mefistofele (Boito): Lontano, lontano with Nikolai Figner 24060 372x G&T, St Petersburg 1901
14. Dubrovski (Napravnik): Ne jamais la voir with Nikolai Figner 373x-No-2z G&T, St Petersburg 1901
15. Harold (Napravnik): Cradle song 23146 436x G&T, St Petersburg 1901
16. Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d’arte 23147 437x G&T, St Petersburg 1901
17. Carmen (Bizet): Habanera  23125X 362z G&T, St Petersburg 1901
18. Night love and moon (Davidov) 23132X 363z G&T, St Petersburg 1901
19. Carmen (Bizet): Chanson boheme 23131X 364z G&T, St Petersburg 1901
20. Cradle song (Napravnik) 23146X 365z-T2-2z G&T, St Petersburg 1901
21. Carmen (Bizet): Seguedille 23080 Pathé cylinders & discs, St Petersburg 1903?
22. In the morning I bring you violets (Meyer-Helmund) 23081 G&T, St Petersburg 1901
23. Folksongs: Ein Mannlein steht im Walde & unknown song 593b Muztrust
24. E canta il grillo (Billi) 642 18246 Muztrust
25. Stornellatrice (Respighi) 643  18246 Muztrust