coloratura BLANCHE ARRAL - "Bird Imitation Waltz" - UNUSUAL

In this video we hear Blanche Arral (1864-1945) imitate various bird calls....in "VALSE d' OISEAU," from Louis Varney's brilliant operetta, "L' Amor Mouille, which is her best-known recording---made for Victor in 1909.

Like most of the world's most famous coloratura sopranos of the 19th century, she studied in Paris with the famous Mathilde Marchesi.

One day, during a lesson, Nellie Melba entered the studio and started a conversation with Mme. Marchesi, which annoyed "Clara," as she was then known. Clara continued to sing, which steamed Melba and prompted her to comment, "The little thing might amount to something with a great deal of hard work, counselling to be less impertinent, and lots of soup to grow taller." The fledgling soprano stood around 5 feet.

While Blanche Arral-—real name Claire Lardinois---made 82 recordings, the first 48 were Bettini cylinders, cut in 1898, NONE of which survives.

Whatever happened to the best of Bettini's fabulous cylinder collection is the biggest musical mystery--and musical tragedy---of
the century!

Arral made a Columbia test pressing that was rejected and then disappeared. What remain are the Edison and Victor
recordings, all made in 1909. Then, too, there are a number of transcriptions of her 1935 radio programs, which are very entertaining. She LOVED the microphone.

Blanche Arral—born in Liege, Belgium, in 1864--was the youngest of 17 children of Count Lardinois, whose family was very musical.

Arral went on to live a wild life for a woman of any century. After performing at the Opera Comique in Paris, she honed her singing talents on the international opera circuit, met and married a Russian prince (who died soon after), and performed for the sultan of Turkey before barely escaping
from a harem.

Her autobiography, completed in 1937, is a fascinating read. In her twilight years, she had married an educator 25 years her junior who induced her to pen her memoirs. Her life-story reads like fiction.

Arral died in Palisades Park, New Jersey, in 1945.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• gmmix
• Blanche
• Arral
• coloratura
• soprano
• Edison
• Victor
• Bird
• waltz
• operetta

[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.

[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.

[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.

[AulicExclusiva]

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

[alechorseman]

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

[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.

[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?

[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!