"Edison's Favorite Singer" ~ American Soprano Anna Case ~ My Laddie (1928)

By request from "pax41" / American soprano Anna Case / My Laddie (Thayer) / Recorded: November 12, 1928 --

The following is from "A Concise Biographical Dictionary of Singers" / K.J. Kutsch & Leo Riemens (Chilton Book Company - 1969)

American soprano, born in Clinton, New Jersey on October 29, 1888, the daughter of a blacksmith. Case was leading the chorus and playing organ at the Dutch Reformed Church in her community by the age of 15, without ever having formal music lessons. She began studying with a local music teacher who gave up when Case's potential proved too great, and was then sent to a private teacher in New York. Referred to as "Edison's favorite singer," Anna Case made numerous recordings for the great American inventor. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in a minor role on November 20, 1909, remaining with the company until 1919, Aida & Carmen considered to be her best roles. In 1913 she sang Sophie in the American premiere of Rosekavalier. She began to record on Edison wax cylinders with "Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms (June 21, 1912) and two other numbers before making some 98 Diamond Discs, the first on September 19, 1913 ("Charmant Oiseau" from Perle de Bresil) and the last on June 24, 1926 ("A Night of Love"). Her recorded repertoire consisted of primarily concert songs, though she included a number of arias. Case appeared often on stage demonstrating Edison's "Tone Tests," where the lights were dimmed and the audience was to guess when a singer stopped and the phonograph began. Two of the experimental Edison long-playing records of 1928 included Case's voice, doing four songs on each disc. She made only one Victor record, taking part in the ensemble of "Du also bist mein" from Zauberflote (April 6, 1913). Following some work for Vitaphone, Case moved to Columbia where she made 41 discs from 1928 to 1930, again drawing on the concert repertoire. She retired in 1930, and the following year married ITT executive Clarence MacKay. Anna Case died in New York on January 7, 1984.

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• American
• Soprano
• Anna
• Case
• Thomas
• Edison
• 78
• rpm
• CurzonRoad

[althazarr]

What a fantastic recording Doug! Thank you for sharing this gem! 5*****

[CurzonRoad]

Much obliged... thank YOU, Lloyd!

[tomfroekjaer]

What a pearl ! Never heard of her before...

Thanks, Dough.

[CurzonRoad]

Hi Tom: She made quite a few acoustics for Edison, which are often are very noisy... so here she is -- "Edison's Favorite Singer" -- on a Columbia electrical! THANK YOU! Doug --

[gmmix]

Expressive and beautiful voice. Sounds like she

truly is singing straight from her heart. Am stunned to read she made 41 discs for Columbia from '28 to '30, as I don't own a single one....but do have all her Diamond Discs. Splendid photo of the woman. Thanks for this posting.

[calmlividdeath]

My mother, who died in 1944, used to sing this. It is terribly nostalgic. Can anyone help me with the meaning of 'the kent ye carry'?  I can't find it anywhere.

Borealia

[rupepill]

A voice of attractive quality. The beauty of her chest notes, in particular, help to explain why one of the singer's preferred roles was said to be that of Carmen.

[Glenmed]

One of those that i just had to listen to again. Yes you'd have to guess it was a Scottish song. Loved it.

[Corrie121]

Lovely!!. She rolls her "r's" as good as any in the broadest Scottish dialect.

Thank you for sharing this delightful post.

[Kievest]

Sensitive musicality wrapped in the sole

luxury of a beautiful voice! Case's sing-

ing is a great pleasure to experience!

Sentimental but not maudlin...Wonderful

photos, Doug! Thank you!

[pax41]

I love all kinds of music and have always been a big fan of classical music. My 78 collection leans toward the lighter fare but I do like the more serious music. I see you like to collect the obscure artists, we are very much alike. Doug, you have to post all of her music here whether the recording sounds good or not. I am seriously in love with this lady's glorious voice.

[CurzonRoad]

Bob:

Be careful... I'm playing a very subtle, devious game with you. Before you know it you'll be addicted to her operatic recordings, one thing will lead to the next, and you'll abandon jazz, blues, pop, etc.

:-D

Cheers, mate.

Doug --