British Contralto Cara Butt ~ Caro mio ben (1910)

[clarabelle2503]

Just discovered I'm related to Clara. Amazing woman and voice! And so beautiful too. I feel so lucky. 

[CurzonRoad]

@clarabelle2503

Greetings:

And a great honor!

All Good Wishes!

Thank you!

[Rigelcentauri58]

It seems to me she sings like a castrato. A real contralto. Beautiful voice!!

[IshyIMB017]

Wow, that was amazing, I´ve really had never had the chance to listen to a real contralto, very impressive.

[schlusnus]

I prefer the male voice by far for Caro M. Ben, if one

hears Schlusnus recording with a full organ and choir

you might agree.

Actually composed by Giordanello about 1770 a family

of neopolitan origin.

[nicksum29]

What utterly soppy, horrifically sentimental orchestration - but OH!OH!OH! what a lovely voice.

[Glenmed]

Unique voice and style. There is a strange and evocative beauty about Dame Clara's singing that I can't put my finger on. I'm never unaffected when listening to her. TY.

[CurzonRoad]

Her voice really is beautiful, with an unearthly, otherworldly quality.... but the proper words escape me. Thank YOU!

[patefon39]

THANK ! Prima song Prima recording Adam from Polen

[CurzonRoad]

Hello Adam: And thank YOU! Doug --

[pax41]

This recording has really good sound on it Doug for 1910. What speed did you record this one at? I know that her recordings did not always play at the same speed, she was very particular about how the final product came out.

[vstasov]

Wonderful singer. Thank you.

[raymo51]

I am developing a great fondness for the voice and unorthodox style of Dame Clara Butt. Made a Dame (Dame Commander of the British Empire) in1920, Dame Clara had the honour to sing before three British Monarchs - Queen Victoria, Edward VII and George V. I had to laugh at Sir Thomas Beecham's remark that " on a clear day, you could hear her across the English Channel"!

Many thanks for this posting.

[meltzerboy]

Very different from the Galli-Curci recording! But, to my mind, equally fine, due to Butt's splendid variation of tonal color despite a less-than-orthodox style for this music. I also love her singing of Handel. Thanks, Doug, for sharing this.

[HM0880]

@meltzerboy

Dame Clara has a unique, hard-to-classify instrument-- rich and dark yet never veiled. Thanks for sharing, meltzerboy, and thank you, Doug, for posting!

[Bivolari]

A vanished voice voice type. She was actually a very fine singer. Thanks Doug.

[transformingArt]

Wonderful recording! I have sung in in my high school music class, you know...:-)

By the way, little correction ; Clara Butt, Caro Mio Ben.

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Mark:  Thank you for listening... and correction made! Cheers, etc. Doug --