Marcella Sembrich sings Chopin - Maiden's Wish, ca 1900

[meyerbeer13]

Lamperti had a certain vocal technique which would be beneficial to many of today's singers, who often blow their voices out in 5 or 10 years. Singing this way produces a big focused resonance without damaging the voice. A small voice (like Lamperti or Sembrich) can fill the opera house, and a big voice can negotiate the tessature with unbelievable ease.

[meyerbeer13]

Actually Chopin's father was French, his mother Polish, so he's half and half.

[zzindorf]

What a tremendous example of Tempo Rubato!

[Galantski]

For a wonderful 21st century version, check out Marta Eggerth, who sang it when she was 80! Amazingly, she out sings Sembrich, and I dare say by a fairly wide margin. It is also posted on YouTube.

[transformingArt]

I posted this before - this recording dates from 1907.

[meltzerboy]

Sembrich made two different recordings of the song. I believe one of them was recorded in 1905 and the other in 1907. However, this one does sound like the recording you posted.

[barbcard]

Thanks for this archival upload. I hope everyone realizes that Chopin was Polish, not French--anymore than Josephine Baker or E. Hemingway. (Never underestimate the ignorance of some!)

[genia106]

A POLISH GENIUS!

Happy Birthday Frederick!

[JCJasion]

How wonderful! Chopin lived and music has never been the same. Thank God!

[BiagiaRose]

Such a lovely tribute to celebrate a man who gave us so much.

[Coupal1]

This is fabulous! I am familiar with a lot of Chopin's piano music but obviously his vocal music is a hidden treasure! Many thanks for posting.

[halynamyroslava]

Great greetings from Ukraine.

Thanks to Poland the wold has heard so beautiful artistic poetic music.

This day is a real holiday of music for all the world

Thank you very very much