coloratura BLANCHE ARRAL - "Bird Imitation Waltz" - UNUSUAL

[MrGer2295]

AWESOME!!! Thank you for sharing this Wonderful Performance of Great Belgian coloratura soprano BLANCHE ARRAL (1864–1945).

[65attila]

This is a joyous and wonderful peformance, I think today the serious 'Comme Scritto" crowd would wrinkle their noses at such virtuosity. Their loss and of

course PRESENT COMPANY EXCLUDED.

BRAVA *******

[mariasarda]

Magistral !!!!!!!

[rupepill]

Such a pity that the singer is not still alive and personally able to use the Internet to present her pretty voice. Twitter, for example, might suit her delightful bird evocations very well indeed.

[alechorseman]

More about Blanche ARRAL "Bettini's " cylinders. She made 48 records in 1898-1899. She recorded for Bettini as 'Clara Lardinois'. Sound from Bettini's not very impressive. I'm know because I'm ovner original brown wax Bettini cylinder № 45 = Couplets des dindons from "La Mascotte" (Audran). This is true, not joke.

[DarkRaven635]

I am currently reading her book, and have been desperate to hear her singing voice for some time. Thank you for uploading this, now I can grasp the sound of her voice. She is quite inspirational.

[AulicExclusiva]

This is very interesting. She was a good singer and sang this kind of Opéra Comique specialty with real charm and some brilliance.

Collector Bernard Lebow, originator of the Scala and Club 99 series of LP re-issues, had a whole LP of Arral, including some Edisonia.

My favourite Arral recording is the amusing bolero, "Le cœur à la main", from Lecocq's opéra bouffe Giroflé-Girofla, also recorded by Sutherland. A real coloratura caper!

[meltzerboy]

I recall the Club 99 series of Bernard Lebow's and may even have the Arral disc, although I don't remember what her singing of the selection you mention sounds like. (BTW, I think the operetta is called "Le coeur et la main"). Sutherland sings it very well on her "French Arias" album released in 1970. I'll have to look for the Arral recording. I believe Jeanette MacDonald also recorded the piece or am I confusing it with something else?

[AulicExclusiva]

Sutherland's French Arias collection is one of the best things she ever did.

[comey717]

why did they say she recorded very unsual coloratura pieces

[gmmix]

She had a fondness for "showy" coloratura selections that provided her the opportunity to display her ability to trill and all the other things coloratura sopranos like to do.

[alechorseman]

Sir, please see my comment about Blanche Arral Bettini's. This is true.

[fuzzbear6240]

Gmmix, Amazing. YF, J.

[meltzerboy]

I believe Arral sang with the Boston Opera for a while and recall reading a review comparing her voice favorably to Sembrich's. I wouldn't go that far (and don't hear the similarity in tone or technique), but still recognize a very pleasing sound in the few recordings I've heard of her. One in particular stands out in my mind, i.e. a rendition of Philine's aria from Mignon, probably sung in French. Thanks for the memories!

[gmmix]

My collection contains the "Je suis Titania" from Mignon, which is very nice. It's Blue Amberol 28125. Great recording, dating from Nov. 1909 but released in Blue Amberol format in Dec. 1912. What I don't have are her 4-min. WAX cylinders, which are very scarce. I've never gone after them because they're very fragile and "wore out" so very quickly, which is why Blue Amberols were developed to take their place.