120711bk Florence 16/6/03 11:29 am Page 2 1. Queen Of The Night Aria 3:40 All the above performed by Florence 15. The Song’s Gotta Come From The 17. Please Don’t Say No 2:11 (W.A. Mozart, from ‘The Magic Flute’) Foster Jenkins with Cosme McMoon at Heart 5:12 (Ralph Freed–Sammy Fain, from film ‘Thrill Melotone, mx 122-B the piano (Sammy Cahn–Jule Styne) of a Romance’) Recorded 1941-44, New York 2. Serenata Mexicana 2:14 Jimmy Durante assisted by Helen Traubel; Lauritz Melchior with Orchestra and Chorus (Written for Mme Jenkins by Cosme 10. Little Jack Horner 2:23 Orchestra conducted by Roy Bargy Victor 10-1149, mx D4-RB-524-1 Recorded 30 December 1944, New York McMoon) (J. Michael Diack, with apologies to George RCA Victor 12-3229, mx E1-RC-2163 Melotone, mx 107 Frideric Handel) Recorded 26 January 1951, New York Transfers and Production: David Lennick Alexander Kipnis, bass, with Ernst Victor 3. Musical Snuff Box 2:27 16. A Real Piano Player 3:58 Digital Noise Reduction: Graham Newton Wolff, piano (Jack Barnett) (Anatol Liadov) Victor 2135, mx BS 043902-3 Original 78s from the collections of David Melotone, mx 194-B Helen Traubel assisted by Jimmy Durante; Lennick & John Rutherford Recorded 30 September 1940, New York Orchestra conducted by Roy Bargy,with Special thanks to Vince Giordano 4. Like A Bird 1:20 11. Sing A Song Of Sixpence 2:07 Jimmy Durante at the piano (Words by Mme Jenkins; composer (Albert Hay Malotte) RCA Victor 12-3229, mx E1-RC-2164 Original monochrome photo of Florence Foster unknown) John Charles Thomes,baritone, with Carroll Recorded 26 January 1951, New York Jenkins from Lebrecht Music Collection Melotone, mx 194-B Hollister, piano 5. Bell Song 4:44 Victor 2054, mx PBS 019295-1 (Léo Delibes, from ‘Lakme’) Recorded 27 May 1938, Hollywood The Naxos Historical labels aim to make available the greatest recordings of the history of recorded Melotone, mx 193 12. The Blue Danube 4:15 music, in the best and truest sound that contemporary technology can provide.To achieve this aim, Naxos has engaged a number of respected restorers who have the dedication, skill and experience 6. Charmant Oiseau 6:03 (Johann Strauss II) to produce restorations that have set new standards in the field of historical recordings. (Felicien David, from ‘Perle du Brésil’) Josephine Tumminia, soprano, with Jimmy With flute accompaniment by Dorsey & His Orchestra Also available in the Naxos Nostalgia series ... Louis Alberghini Decca 29009, mx DLA 757-A Melotone, mx 147, 148 Recorded 17 March 1937, Los Angeles 7. Adele’s Laughing Song 3:52 13. The Little Old State Of Texas 2:41 (Johann Strauss II, from ‘Die Fledermaus’) (Sammy Cahn–Earl Brent) Melotone, mx 168 Ezio Pinza, bass, and The Sons of the Pioneers RCA Victor 10-3427, mx E1-RB-630-1 8. Biassy 3:37 Recorded 7 May 1951, Hollywood (Words by Alexander Pushkin, to J. S. Bach's 14. The Fireman’s Bride 2:30 Prelude XVI) (Sigmund Romberg–Dorothy Fields, from Melotone, mx unknown ‘Up In Central Park’) 9. Valse Caressante 6:45 Jeannette MacDonald, soprano, and Robert (Cosme McMoon) Merrill, baritone; Orchestra conducted by With flute accompaniment by Robert Russell Bennett Louis Alberghini Victor 10-1154, mx D5-RB-715-1 8.120620 8.120623 8.120679* Melotone, mx 145-B, 146-B Recorded 3 February 1945, New York * Not Available in the U.S. 5 8.120711 6 8.120711 120711bk Florence 16/6/03 11:29 am Page 1 What is known about Jenkins is that she was anxiety concerning ‘a note’at the end of the aria. descending trill, her repeated staccato notes like starring role in South Pacific than for his FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS & FRIENDS wealthy,was a socialite, founded and guided the ‘My dear Mme. Jenkins,’replied Mrs.Weinstock, a cuckoo in its cups, are innocently uproarious decades as one of the great operatic basses. But Original 1937-1951 Recordings Verdi Club for nearly thirty years, and that she ‘you need feel no anxiety concerning any single to hear, almost as much so as the annual song why anyone thought teaming him up with The Murder On The High Cs loved to sing. After years of giving her own note.’ The diva was reassured.” Except for the recital which she gives in Manhattan … Mrs. Sons Of The Pioneers was a good idea will unique small-scale entertainments, she took the Fledermaus aria and Biassy, all of Jenkins’ Jenkins is well pleased with the success of her forever remain a mystery. Pinza went on to star “Your Portrait In Sound”. In the days before tape New York,Washington and Newport. bold step of appearing in Carnegie Hall on recordings were made from such “test”records, Queen Of The Night record and hopes to make recorders, the Melotone Recording Studio at 25 in another Broadway musical, Fanny, and even 25 October 1944. Two thousand people were with resultant loss in sound quality. Jenkins and others. Her fans hope so too.” Central Park West in New York was one of many Even her recorded legacy is confusing. did a television series, Bonino, in 1953. Jeanette turned away from the sold-out auditorium and Melotone were ideally suited to one another, establishments in the 1930s and 1940s where Melotone’s own brochure listed four 78-RPM Joining the great Jenkins on this CD are a MacDonald (1903-1965) went from Broadway to scalpers were getting $20 for their two-dollar unfortunately; the reason for the shortened dub you could have a recording made. Professional discs, with the claim that “these four are the only number of renowned performers whose talents Hollywood before singing on any operatic musicians had their concerts recorded off the air, Jenkins recordings extant”. Those eight sides tickets. Columnist Earl Wilson, Jr. suggested that of The Bell Song was the recording’s length, are in less doubt, although some of their tastes stages, and was still a major star when she was budding performers such as Mario Lanza were reissued on LP in the ’50s, re-released in she should try Madison Square Gardens or the which caused the grooves to run into the label in repertoire may be questioned. Some are teamed with the rising baritone Robert Merrill recorded demonstration discs, small record labels the ’60s with Serenata Mexicana omitted (it Polo Grounds next, but Florence Foster Jenkins area. clearly having fun, while others probably wanted (born 1917) by Victor for a recording of died a month after her triumph. occasionally used their facilities; and from 1941 didn’t reappear till the ’90s), and were Florence Foster Jenkins’ recordings could be to forget that they’d ever made these recordings. Sigmund Romberg’s Up In Central Park in to 1944, Melotone was host to the incredible transferred from second or third-generation About her recordings, Melotone’s booklet stated: purchased from the singer herself, from Ukranian-born bass Alexander Kipnis (1891- 1945. Merrill would later run afoul of the Met’s vocalizing of Florence Foster Jenkins. dubs, one of which had removed the piano “Mme. Jenkins’ visits to the studio were a distinct Melotone, and from select dealers such as The 1978) was renowned for his Wagnerian Rudolf Bing when he appeared in a lamentable introduction to the Bell Song. But there were performances as well as for Russian repertoire, film titled Aaron Slick From Punkin Crick. Much has been written about the so-called Diva and radical departure from the customary Gramophone Shop, which listed her first release five Jenkins 78s, the unlisted one being the two- and is the only luminary in this group who can Similar conflicts surrounded Helen Traubel of Din in the six decades since her death, and in routines of the many artists for whom Melotone under “Historical” and described it as “a most sided Valse Caressante, of which only a couple not be considered to be “slumming”. Baritone (1899-1972), the leading Wagnerian soprano at 2001 she was the subject of a play staged at the has recorded. Rehearsals, the niceties of volume unusual record which must be heard to be of pressings are known to exist. Mystery also John Charles Thomas was born the same year as the Met in the late 1940s but also a frequent Edinburgh Fringe Festival,“Viva La Diva” by Chris and pitch, considerations of acoustics – all were believed”. The following year it listed the surrounds the other participants on her Kipnis and died in 1960. He made his Met performer with Jimmy Durante (1893-1980). Ballance. Her portrait in the “Angel of thrust aside by her with ease and authority. The Fledermaus/Biassy release in its vocal section, recordings. Cosme McMoon was the name of début in 1934, but is better remembered as a Traubel’s frequent Wagnerian partner was the Inspiration” costume is known everywhere, technicians never ceased to be amazed at her stating “It will probably suffice to say that here is her piano accompanist on records and in concert and recording artist. Josephine great tenor Lauritz Melchior (1890-1973), and he sound clips and photographs are on the Internet, capacity for circumventing the numerous a new Florence Foster Jenkins record. The Tumminia (also spelled Tuminia) is even less and her name has long been synonymous with recitals, and virtually nothing has been learned problems and difficulties peculiar to recording. soprano considers it her best. The recording also succumbed to the lure of Hollywood where well remembered, although she sang with a musical torture.