K Y M C

NAXOS Historical MELBA: The Complete American Recordings, Vol. 1 8.110334 ime T 69:39 Playing Playing Helen PorterHelen the Mitchell adopted to name, Melba, professional heracknowledge she Melbourne. In 1887 birthplace, made her Australian in Brussels operatic début winning acclaim as Gilda, eventually the Metropolitan at Covent Garden, most of the leading opera Opera and is the This volume world. houses of the Naxos discs first of a series of three recordings containing all the known Melba made forVictor the and Talking Jersey, Machine in Camden, New The 1907 recordings York. New greatest document some of Melba’s the period. hits with audiences of is recorded Although the voice a is there somewhat distantly, which allows naturalness of sound steadiness of clean attacks, Melba’s hertone and the bloom in voice as it to be heard rises in a climactic phrase, quality that strident without the edgy, of the more characterises some powerful and brilliant recordings made after 1909. 1907 Alfin son tua Nellie Melba Nellie oi che sapete V Sweet Bird ° Sì, mi chiamano Mimì Sì, mi chiamano * O soave fanciulla uscì al tuo grido Donde lieta The Complete American Recordings, Vol. 1 Vol. Recordings, American Complete The vos jeux, mes amis, Ah! fors’ libera è lui... Sempre Pâle et blonde, dort sous l’eau Pâle et blonde, dort sous A issi d’arte Caro nome nome Caro Ah! Je ris de me voirAh! Je ris de si belle V Un ange est venu ‡ Per valli, per ‡ boschi Lo! Here the gentle lark ° Lo! Here Se saran rose Mattinata Good-bye † La Serenata Si mes vers avaient des ailes † Si mes vers avaient des ailes ADD OSTI: OSTI: OSTI: 8.110334 with Charles K. North, Flute [Air des bijoux] THOMAS: Hamlet: [Mad Scene part 1] permettez-moi de grâce THOMAS: Hamlet: [Mad Scene part 2] profonde ARDITI: DONIZETTI: Lucia di Lammermoor: BISHOP: HANDEL: Il penseroso: T Tenor with Enrico Caruso, VERDI: Rigoletto: VERDI: bohème: PUCCINI: La bohème: PUCCINI: La PUCCINI: Tosca: GOUNOD: Faust: traviata: VERDI: La bohème: PUCCINI: La T T BLANGINI: BEMBERG: HAHN: di Figaro: Le nozze MOZART: [Mad Scene] ° d’amore complete track list can be found in the booklet ° * † Ada Sassoli, Harp with ‡ with Charles Gilibert, Baritone www.naxos.com Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Ward Marston Audio Restoration Engineer: Ward Producer and Holdridge, Harry Glaze, Lawrence Special thanks to Neil Forster, on Romophone Peter Lack and Jim Peters • Previously released A début at the Théâtre de la Monnaie, Cover image: Nellie Melba’s Arts) Brussels, 1887, as Gilda. (Lebrecht Music & $ % ^ & * ( ) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ! @ #

All rights in this sound recording, artwork, texts and translaations reserved. Unauthorised public performance,

broadcasting and copying of this compact disc prohibited. h & g 2004 Naxos Rights International Ltd.

THE EU MADE IN

AXOS Historical AXOS N MELBA: The Complete American Recordings, Vol. 1 Vol. Recordings, American Complete The MELBA: 8.110334 110334 rr RomMelba1EU 22/10/2004 04:16pm Page 1 04:16pm 22/10/2004 rr RomMelba1EU 110334