Italian Soprano Amelita Galli-Curci ~ Charmant Oiseau (1917)

By request from Nate, aka "meltzerboy" / Italian soprano Amelita Galli-Curci (1882-1963) / Charmant oiseau / Le perle du Bresil (David) / Clement Barone - flute / Recorded: September 14, 1917 --

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Italian
• Soprano
• Amelita
• Galli
• Curci
• Opera
• David
• Charmant
• Oiseau
• Acoustic
• 78
• rpm
• CurzonRoad

[HM0880]

She could sustain really looooong notes! However, she sometimes sounds a little "off"-- especially her lower register; for example, her dip down to the low note at 1:29.

I like the idea of a voice/flute duet (with piano, of course!), although as a violinist, I think someone should write a voice/violin duet. :D As far as the pictures, I like the one of her at the piano; she just looks so erudite. :)

Thank you for posting. :)

[CurzonRoad]

@HM0880

Correcto! Galli-Curci's singing slightly off-key has been noted across these many decades. While very much aware of this, she didn't know why it happened or how to remedy it. All the same.... a great, wonderful artist!

[mayatatyana1]

Doug, exquisite voice! Beautiful video. Thank you. Maya

[SENAFOREVER]

What a gorgeous work you did on this video, Doug!

[HM0880]

@meltzerboy

When I said "off," I wasn't exactly referring to pitch, but something seemed not quite right occasionally. I don't really know. :-p

Neat info about the flute! According to Wikipedia, Galli-Curci was mostly self-taught vocally. Maybe that's partly the origin of her intonation struggles?

I rescind my comment about her coloratura. I am listening to her "Gentle Lark" recording, and it is excellent-- beautifully bird-like and elegant!

Thanks for your kind response. :)

[meltzerboy]

@HM0880 As CurzonRoad points out, Galli-Curci had pitch problems at times. I'm not sure the low note you refer to is off, however; maybe my ears are not as sensitive as yours. By the way, Galli-Curci, a trained pianist, often did her vocalizing with a flute! As you may know, she is considered by many, including myself, as the finest coloratura soprano of her time, or perhaps any time.

[HM0880]

@CurzonRoad

Hmm, interesting. So she frequently sang somewhat off-key? I've never heard of a well-known singer who had trouble with intonation. Maybe there's hope for my vocal career yet! (Joking, of course... :D)

Like I mentioned previously, her long notes are wonderful. I assume that she would be fantastic in a lyrical melody but not in rapid coloratura. Do you have any recommendations of her singing slow melodies?

[Shabannie]

Charming!

------Ellen

[meltzerboy]

Funny I thought one recording was in Italian; I must be thinking of some other aria Tetrazzini recorded in both languages. You may have a point about the deficiencies in the Tetrazzini discs although one of them is superior to the other. As a rule, if the song or aria is about a bird, Galli-Curci is a natural source. It's that she doesn't sound as if she's working at it quite as hard as other singers: a more natural tone and ease of utterance. Too bad Melba or Sembrich didn't record the piece.

[AulicExclusiva]

Though much improved over the Victor March version, I do not think the July HMV is one of T's great records by any stretch of the imagination. The air itself, sung with a lighter, sweeter tone, is clearly better, but there are still a couple of troublesome dips. The variazioni are easier and more brilliant than in March, but there are a couple of unconvincig high notes at the end. So-so.