Emma CALVE in French Song (1908)

Emma Calve (1858-1942) / Ma Lisette (Traditiional French) / Au Printemps (Gounod) / Recorded: March 6, 1908.

In her autobiography, Calve writes of learning the technique for manipulation of the floated high notes in head voice -- as heard here in 'Ma Lisette' -- from Sistine Chapel castrato Domenico Mustafa (1829-1912).

ITEM: Please note this is a re-posting for improved quality.

ITEM: The early morning sky and neighboring red brick building are reflected on the spinning disc, creating the tutti-frutti effect.

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• French
• Song
• Emma
• Calve
• Ma
• Lisette
• Acoustic
• 78
• rpm
• Phonograph
• CurzonRoad

[wbworkout]

I saw a picture of this remarkable woman and did a search on her only to discover what a lovely soprano she was. Sometime the internet is amazing.

[AulicExclusiva]

Calvé sometimes sounds hollow, but when she's in her charm mode, she can sing very well indeed, as in these two adorable mélodies. The contrived falsetto Kopfton reminds me of Roberta Peters—it sounds as if it were coming from out her ears. Regardless, this is a very lovely coupling.

[forrest1230]

oh my goodness...the high notes she sings give me chills

[meltzerboy]

"Ma Lisette" is one of Calve's most famous and admired recordings. It is certainly difficult to capture her voice (as it is Melba's, Nordica's, and Eames') and its overtones, especially that eerie high piano note. Calve spoke of the "fourth" vocal register that consists of tones of this haunting quality. Lily Pons used a similar closed-mouth technique to produce her "normal" high notes, though not at the beginning of her career according to Nina Morgana, during which she sang them open-mouthed.