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78 rpm 12" record album front cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Two hundred and seventeen years ago today, on February 17, 1904, the premier of the opera, Madama Butterfly, by Giacomo Puccini, took place at the La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy.
illustration by Adolfo Hohenstein
Italian coloratura soprano, Rosina Storchio performed the title role of Cio Cio San at the 1904 premier of Madama Butterfly . . .
Rosina Storchio as Cio Cio San - 1904
Photo by Varischi e Artico
. . . but it was Italian-born American operatic soprano, Licia Albanese who made the role of Cio Cio San hers when she made her unofficial debut in Milan in 1934 when she replaced another soprano in Puccini's Madama Butterfly,
the role for which she would be celebrated. For over 40 years, she sang
more than 300 performances of Cio-Cio-San.
photographer unknown
Although Albanese has been praised
for many of her roles, including Mimì, Violetta, Liù and Manon Lescaut, it is her portrayal of the geisha
which has remained her best known. Her connection with that work began
early with her teacher, Giuseppina Baldassare-Tedeschi, a contemporary
of Puccini, and an important exponent of the title role in the
previous generation.
Giuseppina Baldassare-Tedeschi as Cio-Cio-San
date & photographer unknown
Albanese appeared with the San Francisco Opera
where she sang between 1941 and 1961, performing 22 roles in 120
performances over 20 seasons, remaining in part because of her
admiration for its founder and director, Gaetano Merola. I saw her in one of those performances; it was the reason I bought this album.
This recording is from 1952 with German composer Frieder Weissmann conducting the RCA Victor Orchestra with Lucielle Browing in the role of Suzuki, her maid and James Melton in the role of U.S. Navy Lieutenant, B.F. Pinkerton.
Although she specialized in Puccini and was associated with his Madama Butterfly more than with any other role, during her career Licia Albanese
was one of the most beloved sopranos in the Italian repertoire,
specializing in roles that suited her appearance. She was a leading singer with the Metropolitan Opera from 1940 to 1966. Her years at the Met included a number of Saturday afternoon broadcasts.
Licia Albanese became a United States citizen in 1945. On October 5, 1995, President Bill Clinton presented her with the National Medal of Honor for the Arts.
Licia Albanese, aka Cio-Cio-San, died on August 15, 2014, in her home in Manhattan, New York City; she was 105 years old.
Tracklist:
Record 1:
A1 - Licia Albanese, James Melton – Love Duet (Part 1)
A6 - James Melton – Addio (Farewell)
Record 2:
B2 - Licia Albanese, James Melton – Love Duet (Concluded)
B5 - Licia Albanese, Lucielle Browning – Flower Duet (Concluded)
Record 3:
C3 - Licia Albanese – Un Bel Di, Vedremo (One Fine Day...)
C4 - Licia Albanese, Lucielle Browning – Flower Duet (Part 1)
Credits:
Composed By – Puccini*
Conductor – Frieder Weissmann (tracks: A1 to A5, B1), Victor Trucco (tracks: B2 to B7)
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Lucielle Browning (tracks: A1 to A5, B1)
Orchestra – RCA Victor Orchestra*
Sleeve Notes – Radio Corporation of America
Soprano Vocals – Licia Albanese (tracks: B2 to B7)
Tenor Vocals – James Melton (tracks: A1 to A5, B1)
Notes:
This differs from Licia Albanese In Highlights From Puccini's Madame Butterfly With James Melton And Other Operatic Arias in being a "Shaded white dog" label. Sleeve credit listed as "Copyright 1954, Radio Corporation of America".
A1 - Licia Albanese, James Melton – Love Duet (Part 1)
A6 - James Melton – Addio (Farewell)
Record 2:
B2 - Licia Albanese, James Melton – Love Duet (Concluded)
B5 - Licia Albanese, Lucielle Browning – Flower Duet (Concluded)
Record 3:
C3 - Licia Albanese – Un Bel Di, Vedremo (One Fine Day...)
C4 - Licia Albanese, Lucielle Browning – Flower Duet (Part 1)
Credits:
Composed By – Puccini*
Conductor – Frieder Weissmann (tracks: A1 to A5, B1), Victor Trucco (tracks: B2 to B7)
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Lucielle Browning (tracks: A1 to A5, B1)
Orchestra – RCA Victor Orchestra*
Sleeve Notes – Radio Corporation of America
Soprano Vocals – Licia Albanese (tracks: B2 to B7)
Tenor Vocals – James Melton (tracks: A1 to A5, B1)
Notes:
This differs from Licia Albanese In Highlights From Puccini's Madame Butterfly With James Melton And Other Operatic Arias in being a "Shaded white dog" label. Sleeve credit listed as "Copyright 1954, Radio Corporation of America".
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Stamped side 1): E4 RP8309-6S B4
Matrix / Runout (Stamped side 2): E4 RP8310-6S B1
Matrix / Runout (Label side 1): E4 RP 8309
Matrix / Runout (Label side 2): E4 RP 8310
Giacomo
Puccini, Frieder Weissmann, Victor Trucco, RCA Victor Orchestra*, Licia
Albanese, James Melton, Lucille Browning – Licia Albanese In Highlights
From Puccini's Madame Butterfly With James Melton And Other Operatic
Arias
Label: RCA Victor Red Seal – LM-1839
Format: Vinyl, LP, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1954
Genre: Classical
Style: Opera
Label: RCA Victor Red Seal – LM-1839
Format: Vinyl, LP, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1954
Genre: Classical
Style: Opera
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
Bruce Duffie ~ Conversation w/Licia Albanese
YouTube links:
Licia Albanese ~ Un bel di vedremo (1953)
Licia Albanese & Lucielle Browning - Una nave da guerra (Flower duet)
Licia Albanese & James Melton ~ Love Duet
James Melton – Addio (Farewell)
date & photographer unknown
Styrous® ~ Wednesday, February 17, 2021
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