Amelita Galli-Curci (soprano) was born in Milan in 1882. Her debut in 1906 at Trani, Italy, was as Gilda in Rigoletto and she rapidly became acclaimed as a coloratura singer. In 1916 she made her American debut at Chicago, again as Gilda, and remained with the company until 1921 when she joined the New York Metropolitan company, appearing with them until 1930. By this time her voice was in decline, and after a throat operation in 1935 she retired completely. She died in 1963. Her earlier records in particular have captured her voice extremely well and display an exceptional technique and beauty of tone: the electrical records, though less satisfactory in some ways, still show a fine technique and quality of voice. (Mouse over the list for notes.)
GRANDE AIR DE CATHERINE
('L'ETOILE DU NORD') (Meyerbeer)
HMV DB1477 recorded 5 September 1930
DOVE 'È L'INDIANA BRUNA (BELL SONG)
('LAKMÉ') (Delibes)
HMV 2-053130 recorded 5 March 1917
AIR AND VARIATIONS (Proch)
Flute obbligato by Clement Barone
HMV DB1144 recorded 6 May 1926
AH! VOUS DIRAIS-JE MAMAN?
('LE TOREADOR') (Adam)
HMV DB262 recorded 8 September 1921
UN BEL DÌ VEDREMO ('MADAMA BUTTERFLY')
(Puccini)
HMV DB261 recorded 20 September 1922
LA VILLANELLE (Eva dell' Acqua)
Composite transfer of HMV 2-033081 and
HMV DB263 (reissue) recorded 21 June 1920
NELLA CALMA ('ROMÉO ET JULIETTE')
(Gounod)
HMV 2-033038 recorded 31 January 1917
IMPONETE - NON AMARLO DITEGLI ('LA
TRAVIATA') (Verdi) with Giuseppe de Luca
Test pressing of HMV 2-054089 rec. 6 November 1918
C'EST L'HISTOIRE AMOUREUSE (L'ECLAT DE
RIRE) ('MANON LESCAUT') (Auber)
HMV DA215 recorded 5 March 1917
RUSSIAN NIGHTINGALE SONG
(Alabieff)
HMV DA1095 recorded 1926