Disc One
1 Amelita Galli-Curci (1882-1963)
MANON LESCAUT, Auber, C'est l'histoire amoureuse (L'eclat de rire) 2.38
Rec: 5 March 1917 Matrix: B19338 Victor Cat: 64669
Josef Pasternack, conductor
2 Beniamino Gigli (1890-1957)
MANON LESCAUT, Puccini, Donna non vidi mai 2.56
Rec: 27 October 1926 Matrix: BVE 36741 Victor Cat: 1213
3 Rosa Ponselle (1897-1981)
MANON LESCAUT, Puccini, In quelle trine morbide (with recit.) 3.14
Rec: 19 September 1923 Matrix: 79971-3 Columbia Cat: 36001D
Romano Romani, conductor
4 Tito Schipa (1889-1965)
MARTHA, Flotow, M'appari tutto amor 3.31
Rec: 1925 Matrix: C33939 Victor Cat: 6570a
5 Boris Slovtsov (1886-1934)
MAY NIGHT, Rimsky-Korsakoff, How quiet here... Sleep, my beauty 4.11
Rec: 24 October 1913 Matrix: 287.5c Gramophone Cat: 0222011
6 Claudia Muzio (1889-1936)
MEFISTOFELE, Boito, L'altra notte in fondo al mare 4.10
Rec: 6 June 1935 Matrix: BX 1363 Columbia Cat: LCX 25
Lorenzo Molajoli, conductor
7 Beniamino Gigli (1890-1957)
MEFISTOFELE, Boito, Giunto sul passo estremo 3.35
Rec: February 1921 Matrix: B24783 Victor Cat: 64942
8 Lauritz Melchior (1890-1973)
DIE MEISTERSINGER, Wagner, Morgenlich leuchtend im rosigen Schein 4.01
Rec: 1939 Matrix: CSO 35838-1 Victor Cat: V17728
with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy
9 Conchita Supervia (1895-1936)
MIGNON, Thomas, Connais-tu le pays? 4.36
Rec: 24 October 1931 Matrix: XXP 7311-2 Odeon Cat: R20192
Gustave Cloëz, conductor
10 Tito Schipa (1889-1965)
MIGNON, Thomas, Addio, Mignon 3.25
Rec: May 1924 Matrix: C30080 Victor Cat: 6465a
11 Luisa Tetrazzini (1871-1940)
MIGNON, Thomas, Io son Titania 4.40
Rec: 1911 Matrix: 10073 Victor Cat: 88296
12 Ezio Pinza (1892-1957)
MIGNON, Thomas, De son coeur j'ai calmé (Berceuse) 4.05
Rec: 29 March 1927 Matrix: CVE 37874-2 Victor Cat: 6642
Rosario Bourdon, conductor
13 Frieda Hempel (1885-1955)
MIREILLE, Gounod, O légère hirondelle 2.50
Rec: 9 April 1912 Matrix: 609M HMV Cat: 053290
sung in Italian
14 Rosa Ponselle (1897-1981)
NORMA, Bellini, Sediziose voci... Casta Diva 8.03
Rec: 30 Jan 1929 & 31 Dec 1928 Matrix: CVE 49031/2 Victor Cat: 8125a/b
15 Giuseppe de Luca (1876-1950)
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Mozart, Se vuol ballare 3.25
Rec: 28 March 1917 Matrix: B19421-2 Victor Cat: 64673
16 Conchita Supervia (1895-1936)
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Mozart, Non so piú 3.02
Rec: 1928 Matrix: xxPH 6323 Parlaphone Cat: R20077
A. Albergoni, conductor
17 Elisabeth Schumann (1888-1952)
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Mozart, Voi che sapete? 3.21
Rec: 19 May 1926 Matrix: Cc 8377-3 HMV Cat: DB 946
Disc Two
1 Herbert Ernst Groh (1905-1982)
DER OPERNBALL, Heuberger, Im Chambre séparée 3.13
Rec: 1932 Matrix: Be 11263 Odeon Cat: 0-25676a
with the Odeon-Künstler Orchester conducted by O. Dobrindt
2 Enrico Caruso (1873-1921)
OTELLO, Verdi, Ora e per sempre addio 2.28
Rec: 28 December 1910 Matrix: B9743-2 Victor Cat: 87071
3 Lawrence Tibbett (1896-1960)
OTELLO, Verdi, E qual certezza sognate... Era la notte 4.17
Rec: 3 May 1939 Matrix: CS 036854-1 Victor Cat: 15803
Wilfred Pelletier, conductor
4 Eidé Norena (1884-1968)
OTELLO, Verdi, Ave Maria 4.33
Rec: 7 June 1932 Matrix: 2L 399-2 Disque Gramophone Cat: DB 4852
sung in French
5 Lawrence Tibbett (1896-1960)
PAGLIACCI, Leoncavallo, Si puo? 7.32
Rec: 7 June 1926 Matrix: CVE 35481-2 Victor Cat: 6587
Rosario Bourdon, conductor
6 Beniamino Gigli (1890-1957)
PAGLIACCI, Leoncavallo, Recitar... Vesti la giubba 3.28
Rec: July 1934 Matrix: 2W 2598-1 HMV Cat: DB 2304
with the Orchestra of La Scala, Milan conducted by Franco Ghione
7 Tito Schipa (1889-1965)
PAGLIACCI, Leoncavallo, Serenata d'Arlecchino 2.15
Rec: February 1922 Matrix: B26109 Victor Cat: 828a
8 Beniamino Gigli (1890-1957) & Giuseppe de Luca (1876-1950)
I PESCATORI DI PERLE, Bizet, Del tempio al limitar 4.38
Rec: 28 November 1927 Matrix: CVE 41071 Victor Cat: 8084
9 Beniamino Gigli (1890-1957)
I PESCATORI DI PERLE, Bizet, Mi par d'udir ancora 4.18
Rec: 18 December 1929 Matrix: CVE 58119 Victor Cat: AGSB56
10 Maggie Teyte (1888-1976)
LA PÉRICHOLE, Offenbach, Tu n'es pas beau 3.55
Rec: 22 September 1932 Matrix: CBA 4932-111D Decca Cat: T-201
with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli
11 Amelita Galli-Curci (1882-1963)
LA PERLE DU BRÉSIL, David, Charmant oiseau 4.10
Rec: 14 September 1917 Matrix: C20664 Victor Cat: 74552
Clement Barone, flute
12 Helen Jepson (1904-1997)
PORGY AND BESS, Gershwin, Summertime 2.41
Rec: 23 October 1935 Matrix: CS95465-1 Victor Cat: 11881
Alexander Smallens, conductor
13 Lawrence Tibbett (1896-1960)
PORGY AND BESS, Gershwin, Where is my Bess? 3.23
Rec: 23 October 1935 Matrix: CS95467-1 Victor Cat: 11880
Alexander Smallens, conductor
14 Helge Roswaenge (1897-1972)
LE POSTILLON DE LONJUMEAU, Adam, Mes amis, écoutez 3.01
Rec: May 1936 Matrix: ORA 1298-2 Electrola Cat: DA 4414
with the Berlin State Opera Orchestra and chorus conducted by Bruno Seidler-Winkler
15 Feodor Chaliapin (1873-1938)
PRINCE IGOR, Borodin, Galitzky's song 3.38
Rec: 22 November 1922 Matrix: B27091-1 Victor Cat: 558
Josef Pasternack, conductor
16 Nina Koshetz (1894-1965)
PRINCE IGOR, Borodin, Jaroslavna's aria 4.45
Rec: 12 April 1928 Matrix: A43726 Victor Cat: 9233a
Disc Three
1 Giacomo Lauri-Volpi (1892-1979)
I PURITANI, Bellini, A te o cara 3.42
Rec: 16 January 1928 Matrix: 41450-2 Victor Cat: 7226
Rosario Bourdon, conductor
2 Amelita Galli-Curci (1882-1963)
I PURITANI, Bellini, Qui la voce sua soave 4.38
Rec: 14 September 1917 Matrix: C20669 Victor Cat: 74558
Josef Pasternack, conductor
3 Lauritz Melchior (1890-1973)
RIENZI, Wagner, Allmächt'ger Vater, blick' herab 5.07
Rec: 1930 Matrix: CC 19610 HMV Cat: D2057
4 John McCormack (1884-1945)
RIGOLETTO, Verdi, Questa o quella 2.09
Rec: 1 May 1913 Matrix: B13223-1 Victor Cat: 64344
5 Amelita Galli-Curci (1882-1963)
RIGOLETTO, Verdi, Caro nome 4.44
Rec: 2 February 1917 Matrix: C18596 Victor Cat: 74499
6 Enrico Caruso (1873-1921)
RIGOLETTO, Verdi, Ella mi fu rapita... Parmi veder le lagrime 4.47
Rec: 24 February 1913 Matrix: C11421-2 Victor Cat: 88429
7 Giuseppe de Luca (1876-1950) & Grace Anthony (b.1896)
RIGOLETTO, Verdi, Povero Rigoletto... Cortigiani, vil razza dannata 8.21
Rec: 29 Nov 1927 & 5 Apr 1928 Matrix: CVE 41075-2/43616-1 Victor Cat: 8161
with the Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Giulio Setti
8 Jussi Björling (1911-1960)
RIGOLETTO, Verdi, La donna è mobile 2.18
Rec: 4 December 1936 Matrix: OSB 441-2 HMV Cat: DA 1548
Nils Grevillius, conductor
9 Ernestine Schumann-Heink (1861-1936) & Herbert Witherspoon (1873-1935)
RINALDO, Handel, Lascia ch'io pianga 4.23
Rec: 18 September 1909 Matrix: C3825-2 Victor Cat: 88189
10 Mary Garden (1874-1967)
RISURREZIONE, Alfano, Dieu de grâce 3.53
Rec: 1926 Matrix: A36735 Victor Cat: 6623B
11 Beniamino Gigli (1890-1957)
LE ROI D'YS, Lalo, Vainement ma bien aimée 3.37
Rec: March 1922 Matrix: B26191 Victor Cat: 66070
12 Yevgeniya Bronskaya (1882-1953)
ROMEO ET JULIETTE, Gounod, Je veux vivre dans ce rêve 4.02
Rec: 28 October 1913 Matrix: 2883c Gramophone Cat: 023127
13 Dmitri Smirnov (1882-1944)
ROMEO ET JULIETTE, Gounod, Cavatina... Ah! lève-toi soleil 3.31
Rec: 1909 Matrix: 4285 HMV Cat: 022133
sung in Russian
14 Erna Berger (1900-1990) & Tiana Lemnitz (1897-1994)
DER ROSENKAVALIER, Richard Strauss, Ist ein Traum, kann nicht wirklich sein 4.45
Rec: 1936 Matrix: 606.5GS DGG Cat: 67075B
with the Berlin State Opera Orchestra conducted by Clemens Krauss
Disc Four
1 Beniamino Gigli (1890-1957)
SADKO, Rimsky-Korsakoff, Chanson Hindoue 3.31
Rec: 31 May 1932 Matrix: BSHQ 72832 Victor Cat: 1570
2 Nina Koshetz (1894-1965)
SADKO, Rimsky-Korsakoff, Berceuse 4.11
Rec: 12 April 1928 Matrix: A43727 Victor Cat: 9233B
sung in Russian
3 Conchita Supervia (1895-1936)
SAMSON ET DALILA, Saint-Saëns, Printemps qui commence 4.32
Rec: 24 October 1931 Matrix: XXP 7312-1 Odeon Cat: R20192
Gustave Cloëz, conductor
4 Marian Anderson (1897-1993)
SAMSON ET DALILA, Saint-Saëns, Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix 5.02
Rec: 4 September 1930 Matrix: CC19717 HMV Cat: C2047
Lawrence Collingwood, conductor. Sung in English
5 Giacomo Lauri-Volpi (1892-1979)
LO SCHIAVO, Gomes, Quando nascesti tu 4.04
Rec: 9 January 1929 Matrix: 49052-2A Victor Cat: 7226
Rosario Bourdon, conductor
6 John McCormack (1884-1945)
SEMELE, Handel, O sleep, why dost thou leave me? 3.31
Rec: 1 April 1920 Matrix: B23901-1 Victor Cat: 66096
7 Alexander Kipnis (1891-1978)
SIMON BOCCANEGRA, Verdi, A te l'estremo addio... Il lacerato spirito 4.41
Rec: 13 April 1931 Matrix: 2D 309-2 Gramophone Cat: EJ689
with chorus and orchestra conducted by Erich Orthmann%
8 Boris Slovtsov (1886-1934)
THE SNOW MAIDEN, Rimsky-Korsakoff, Full of wonders 3.05
Rec: 24 October 1913 Matrix: 2874c Gramophone Cat: 0222012
9 Claudia Muzio (1889-1936)
LA SONNAMBULA, Bellini, Ah, non credea mirarti 3.59
Rec: 6 June 1935 Matrix: BX 1361-2 Columbia Cat: LCX 27
Lorenzo Molajoli, conductor
10 Luisa Tetrazzini (1871-1940)
LA SONNAMBULA, Bellini, Ah! non giunge 3.08
Rec: 1911 Matrix: 10076 Victor Cat: 88313
11 Lauritz Melchior (1890-1973)
TANNHAÜSER, Wagner, Dir töne Lob 3.38
Rec: 1929 Matrix: CC 19609/1a HMV Cat: D2057
with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli
12 Tiana Lemnitz (1897-1994)
TANNHAÜSER, Wagner, Dich teure Halle 3.27
Rec: 1934 Matrix: 472 GS DGG Cat: 15079A
13 Kirsten Flagstad (1895-1962)
TANNHAÜSER, Wagner, Allmächt'ge Jungfrau (Elisabeth's Prayer) 7.25
Rec: 9 October 1935 Matrix: 2A 95359/60 Victor Cat: 8920A/B
Hans Lange, conductor
14 Marcel Journet (1867-1933)
TANNHAÜSER, Wagner, O du mein holder Abendstern 4.27
Rec: 17 January 1906 Matrix: C3010-3 Victor Cat: 74006
15 Giovanni Martinelli (1885-1969)
TOSCA, Puccini, Recondita armonia 2.26
Rec: 8 January 1914 Matrix: 14276-1 Victor Cat: 64420
16 Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967)
TOSCA, Puccini, Vissi d'arte 3.46
Rec: 27 February 1913 Matrix: C8264-2 Victor Cat: 88192
17 Jussi Björling (1911-1960)
TOSCA, Puccini, E lucevan le stelle 3.03
Rec: 4 September 1937 Matrix: OSB 574-2 HMV Cat: DA 1584
Nils Grevillius, conductor
Disc Five
1 Richard Tauber (1891-1948) & Lotte Lehmann (1888-1976)
DIE TOTE STADT, Korngold, Glück, das mir verblieb 4.20
Rec: 17 March 1924 Matrix: xxB 6993 Odeon Cat: 0-8613
Georg Szell, conductor
2 Luisa Tetrazzini (1871-1940)
LA TRAVIATA, Verdi, Ah! fors' è lui... Sempre libera 4.42
Rec: 16 March 1911 Matrix: C10065-1 Victor Cat: 88293
Walter B. Rogers, conductor
3 John McCormack (1884-1945)
LA TRAVIATA, Verdi, De' miei bollenti spiriti 3.55
Rec: 10 March 1910 Matrix: C8693-1 Victor Cat: DB 631
4 Luisa Tetrazzini (1871-1940)
LA TRAVIATA, Verdi, Addio del passato 4.49
Rec: 1913 Matrix: af519HO HMV Cat: 2-053096
5 John McCormack (1884-1945) & Lucrezia Bori (1887-1960)
LA TRAVIATA, Verdi, Parigi o cara 3.22
Rec: 8 April 1914 Matrix: C14686-1 Victor Cat: 88453
6 Frida Leider (1888-1975)
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, Wagner, Liebestod 5.04
Rec: 1931 Matrix: 2B904-1 HMV Cat: DB 1545
with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli
7 Rosa Ponselle (1897-1981)
IL TROVATORE, Verdi, Tacea la notte placida 4.17
Rec: 16 November 1922 Matrix: 98051-1 Columbia Cat: 68036D
Romano Romani, conductor
8 Heinrich Schlusnus (1888-1952)
IL TROVATORE, Verdi, Il balen del suo sorriso 3.14
Rec: 1937 Matrix: 200 1/2GS8 DGG Cat: 67362B
with the Staatskapelle Berlin conducted by Johannes Schüler, sung in German
9 Giovanni Martinelli (1885-1969)
IL TROVATORE, Verdi, Di quella pira 2.51
Rec: 23 April 1915 Matrix: 15943-1 Victor Cat: 64505
Walter Rogers, conductor
10 Alma Gluck (1882-1938)
THE TSAR'S BRIDE, Rimsky-Korsakov, Liuba's Air 3.30
Rec: 31 December 1913 Matrix: C14260-2 Victor Cat: 74383
sung in German
11 Lotte Schöne (1891-1977)
TURANDOT, Puccini, Signore, ascolta 2.54
Rec: c. 1927-1931 Matrix: BLR 3793-2 HMV Cat: E503
with the Berlin State Opera Orchestra conducted by Fritz Zweig
12 Giacomo Lauri-Volpi (1892-1979)
TURANDOT, Puccini, Nessun dorma 2.45
Rec: 15 May 1942 Matrix: OBA 5033 HMV Cat: DA 5427
with the Grande Orchestra conducted by Mario Cordone
13 Rosa Ponselle (1897-1981)
LA VESTALE, Spontini, Tu che invoco 4.32
Rec: 18 May 1926 Matrix: CVE 35464 HMV Cat: DB 1274
Rosario Bourdon, conductor
14 Kirsten Flagstad (1895-1962)
DIE WALKÜRE, Wagner, Du bist der Lenz 2.16
Rec: 17 October 1937 Matrix: BS 013073-2 Victor Cat: 1901-A
with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy
15 Lauritz Melchior (1890-1973)
DIE WALKÜRE, Wagner, Winterstürme wichen dem Wonne mond 3.03
Rec: 16 May 1931 Matrix: OB 544-11 HMV Cat: DA 1227
with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli
16 Ninon Vallin (1886-1961)
WERTHER, Massenet, Va! laisse couler mes larmes 2.39
Rec: c. 1928 Matrix: Ki 1168-1 Odeon Cat: 188.517
with the Orchestra of L'Opera Comique conducted by Gustave Cloëz
17 Tito Schipa (1889-1965)
WERTHER, Massenet, Ah! non mi ridestar 4.07
Rec: 4 May 1934 Matrix: 2W2482 HMV Cat: DB 2237
18 Gerhard Hüsch (1901-1984)
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, Mozart, Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja 3.01
Rec: November 1937 Matrix: 2RA 2420-2 HMV Cat: DB 3467
with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham
19 Richard Tauber (1891-1948)
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, Mozart, Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön 4.04
Rec: March 1938 Matrix: CXE 8975 Parlophone Cat: PXO 1024
with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra conducted by Karl Alwin
20 Erna Berger (1900-1990)
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, Mozart, Der Hölle Rache 2.56
Rec: Nov 1937 Matrix: 2RA 2458-3 HMV Cat: DB 3475
with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham
21 Tiana Lemnitz (1897-1994)
DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, Mozart, Ach, ich fühl's 4.54
Rec: November 1937 Matrix: 2RA 2452-2 HMV Cat: DB 3477
with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham
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