American Soprano Elizabeth Wheeler ~ Vilia song (c.1909?)

[opertutto]

A charming rendition of a piece that has deservedly been translated into many languages and survived many interpretations. Thank you, Doug!

[AulicExclusiva]

She has to hurry a bit, to get it all into a 10-inch disk, but her lyric freshness is always remarkable. Her ascents into the soft high register, without cooing or squeezing, are a thing of beauty. Thanks, Doug, this was an appreciated birthday present!

[meltzerboy]

I agree Wheeler's is a sweet-toned performance, and I CAN understand the words (maybe because I already know them). Moreover, I can't really fault the phrasing. Still, it's a rather generic performance, but how much can a singer do with this music? To answer my own question, listen to Jeanette MacDonald's early recording; but avoid Joan Sutherland's, which is truly incomprehensible though rich in tone. La Sutherland was fond of the tune.

[AlmaWinemiller]

A charming performance. Thank you!

[stuartliff]

Lovely voice but surprisingly short phrased in places. I get the impression that this was not really her 'fach'. Why are there no voices today of this sort of quality? America seemes to have produced so many - viz Agnes Kimball, Edith Mason, Frances Alda etc.Anyway I am very grateful to have been given the chance to hear two new voices (Wheeler and Kimball) A million thanks Doug.

[AulicExclusiva]

@stuartliff Alda was from New Zealand, but how about Mabel Garrison? Or Anna Case?

[stuartliff]

Sorry about Alda - A momentary memory lapse. It could have been Farrar, Nordica, Lewis etc,. My apologies. Vivian

[grahamrankin]

A very pure and beguiling voice. Wonderful. Thank you.

[Herur22]

Nice performance.

[rupepill]

The singer seems to be uncomfortable with describing the situation of a witch of the wood's being beheld by a huntsman alone as she stood; where was the witch's chaperone, one wonders as perhaps did Mrs Wheeler?,

Nevertheless, the soprano commendably and so very nicely keeps right on to the end, no doubt relieved at the prospect of singing something of a more spiritual nature.

[mayatatyana1]

Thank you, Doug. Sweet voice. Perfect for this song. Maya

[65attila]

Doug

What a wonderful performance - sweet tone and wonderful sense of the music.

Regards and thanks-John

[CurzonRoad]

@65attila

Agreed... while never a star, she made numerous recordings on Victor's budget Black Label, and in ensemble on the Purple Label. Nice, sweet voice. Thank you, John!

[Bivolari]

Very prettily done. I sure hope she knows what she is saying because I sure don't! A nice, well schooled voice, but to me, she lacks a "face".

[CurzonRoad]

@Bivolari

Perhaps not... but her sweetness and delivery are winsome. Thank you, Stephen!