Search - Amelita Galli-Curci :: Complete Victor Recordings (1916-1920)

Of all the Galli-Curci CD reissues, I put this one first.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 02/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of all the Galli-Curci CD reissues, I put this one first. Romophone seems to have reissued her complete recorded output, in superb Ward Marston productions, but this set, comprising her 1916-1920 recordings, shows her best qualities. Don't be deterred by the early dates. Galli-Curci's voice was recorded by the acoustic process more successfully than almost any other singer of her era. She continued making records until 1930 but by then her glory days had passed. On one day in 1917 she made three recordings, two of which are her greatest. They are the arias from "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" (Track 16) and "La Sonnambula" (Track 18). Also included in this reissue is her participation in the "Rigoletto" Quartet and the "Lucia di Lammermoor" Sextet (two takes) with an ensemble including Caruso, with whom she sang only two performances in stage, and several duets with the baritone Giuseppe de Luca, a frequent partner at the Met. So what are "her best qualities", referred to above, and do they merit the considerable outlay necessary to buy this 2 CD set? Vocal agility is the most remarkable. A bird-like trill is executed beautifully and easily, in both an upper and lower register. All sounds fall easily on the ear. Galli-Curci was one of the great gramophone coloraturas. Here are 43 of her recordings, cleanly and faultlessly projected, available at merely a fraction of their original purchase price."