MARIA GALVANY -- Edison Blue Amberol - Sonnambula

"Cavatina" from the opera bellini's LA SONNAMBULA (actually, "Come per me sereno") by one of the most dazzling coloratura sopranos who ever lived---Maria Galvany (1878-1949). The 4-minute Blue Amberol cylinder is #28123. Born in Granada,
Galvany studied at Madrid Conservatory.
She made her debut as Lucia at Cartagena
in 1897. Specializing in coloratura roles, she sang with great success in Spain and Italy, gaining her greatest popularity in South America. She also toured with a company that performed throughout Europe, including Russia, where she was a favorite singer. In London in 1909, she appeared at Drury Lane as Amina, Rosina, and in the title role of Meyerbeer's Dinorah. In
Lisbon she sang uninterruptedly for 15
years at the Coliseu. She gained great success in Parma, Venice, and Genoa.
Galvany NEVER appeared at La Scala, the
Met, the Teatro Cólon, or Covent Garden.
She retired to Brazil and died there in poverty. She recorded a number of Edison Diamond Discs, mostly 12-inchers, none of which ever was released to the public.
A few of the brown wax disc masters
survive. Collectors probably are wondering what happened to the phonograph's lid.
It's been removed temporarity so that an 8-foot brass horn can readily be attached
to the reproducer for incredible volume
and fullness of sound. You wouldn't believe the difference such a horn makes! More of
my Blue Amberols will be added to YouTube. Check "gmmix" from time to time for more.
I bought well over 1200 B.A.'s "brand new" years back from the last Edison jobber in the world—-Clarence A. Ferguson of South Center St., Merrill, Wis., who still had
a huge warehouse full of "factory fresh" Edison cylinders and discs when I was in
my teens.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• gmmix
• Maria
• Galvany
• coloratura
• soprano
• Amberola
• Edison
• Blue
• Amberol
• Bellini
• Sonnambula
• opera
• cylinder
• record

[hobo197]

ive never heard her like this,her voice sounds fuller and more attractive with a secure connectiveness.ive read from people like michael scott that her voice wasnt very attractive but i cannot see how this is so.ty

[gmmix]

I agree with your assessment. She has "more voice"---and attractive mid-range production--- than usually she usually is credited with.

[comey717]

i love galvany did she ever record lakme?

[gmmix]

Yes, she did. I have a copy...and O luce (Linda), Proch Air, Lucia mad scene, Ophelia's mad scene (Hamlet), Qui la voce and Ah, nun from Puritani, Lo non from Crispino, Miereille Valse, Ouvi dizar from Fado Portuguez, and some others. Two "new" 10-in. Victor G&T discs just arrived from Uraguay this week.

[mrrk]

MOre please.

[gmmix]

Apparently you share my admiration of Galvany.

I will soon post a few more. Just purchased two very early / rare G&T Victors from

a dealer in Uruguay, S.A. Thanks for your interest.

[m134mr]

I am so glad she recorded on a blue amberol - I wish Caruso had recorded on a blue amberol, just to hear that higher quality sound

[Randidan]

@hobo197 Just a suggestion: If you would like to hear just how luscious her voice could be -- when she was well-behaved! - get copies or CD transfers by the likes of W. Marston, of the duets she made w/Ruffo, Giorgini etc. She was apparently a very large-voiced dramatic-coloratura like Siems, Kurz, Abendroth - or Sutherland today (RIP). Maybe the others WERE "party-tricks" -- it's been a mystery all along...

[Randidan]

@gmmix Uruguay! Were they from a dealer? I'd love to have contacts in South America!

[rubyedelman]

Wish she had the opportunity to record with today's technology to prove what really means bel canto and not what we get today in theaters by so-called Divas....

the real Divas are gone unfortunately. Rossini was saying that starting the period of Galvani the bel canto was lost; I wander what would say Rossini if he would heard today's singers!!!! He probably would drop dead or would go to a mad house...don't you think so?

[65attila]

Galvany did record some great party records but she had an excellent voice and when on downers could be quite musical Besides I like her party records.

The performance here is quite excellent.

[100lemon]

thank you for sharing this on you tube

[gestas60323]

Thank you for these amazing, magnificent vocal documents !

[jfsanin]

She was one the best coloratura in the bel canto age. Most of coloratura of her age sang like a canary (old style), but very pleasant and agreable.jfsanin

[mariagalvany]

Sorry, For my incorrect comment before. I am always astonish with Maria Galvany's recordings. They show such range and her dazzling coloratura. And I noticed that she had very large high notes.

[agnellodei]

Thanks for posting! I would love to have all these old records to record them to digital with protools and high quality microphones I got, hopefully in the future I will work on that.