Ave Maria / Nellie Melba

[Wolfe]

Desdemona's prayer in act 4 of Verdi's Otello.

This 1909 Victor recording may let one hear and appreciate Melba's pure delivery and chaste tones.

It's only a small pity that they cut it off after 'amen' before the strings are supposed to do their bit at the end.

She's also recorded with this at her Covent Garden farewell performance in 1926.









PLAY

[B.B.B]

Thanks for this one, I just love Madame Melba.
But then again, it hard not to..

[Wolfe]

I tend to agree, she was one of a kind.

[Wolfe]

I had taken a cursory glance at the Victor database to find the 1909 recording date, when I posted.

Closer inspection reveals a second version that was recorded in 1910.

The 1909 was recorded in New York, the 1910 in Camden, and both carry the same 88149 catalog #.

There were Gramophone Co. issues from from these takes, but they originated as Victor recordings.