Queen of the Night Aria by Bessie Abbott 1907

[melvind]

This is a somewhat odd record for a couple of reasons. First, it is sung in Italian instead of German. I am not sure why. Second, it is recorded a whole step lower than the score. The original is in D minor. This one is in C minor. Perhaps she just did not have a reliable high F which is an issue for today's singers as well. DAHR states that it was recorded at 76.60 which is exactly in C Minor. While not one of my favorite versions, the way I look at it anyone that can sing an entire opera aria is pretty fantastic.

(Double-click the video above or click this link to watch the video on YouTube in HD.)

https://youtu.be/EE0kC8TLbqI

Here are a couple of links to videos you can compare this one to.

Perhaps the best version of Der Hölle Rache ever recorded by German Soprano Diana Damrau:

(Double-click the video above or click this link to watch the video on YouTube in HD.)

https://youtu.be/OLlux8ICOfI

For sure the WORST version of Der Hölle Rache ever recorded by Florence Foster Jenkins:

(Double-click the video above or click this link to watch the video on YouTube in HD.)

https://youtu.be/-quQHNriV-Q

[Henry]

If you played the Bessie Abbott recording at 78 rpm, that would nudge it up closer to D minor. Not sure how to calculate the rise in pitch as related to rpm's (although I think doubling the speed would raise the pitch by an octave, and, conversely, halving the speed would lower the pitch an octave).

Bessie Abbott, born Pickens, birthplace Heuvelton, NY. I've been there. Not many people can say that. It's about as remote a little place in far upstate NY (we're not talking Yonkers here!) as you can get. Center of cheese manufacturing back in the day, as it's in dairy farm country---growing season is too short for crop farming. How on earth anyone ever made it out of there to the Big Time beggars the imagination!

[audiophile102]

Thanks for posting the link to Florence Foster Jenkins. Every time I hear it, I laugh very hard and with the virus around I needed it.

[melvind]

If you played the Bessie Abbott recording at 78 rpm, that would nudge it up closer to D minor. Not sure how to calculate the rise in pitch as related to rpm's (although I think doubling the speed would raise the pitch by an octave, and, conversely, halving the speed would lower the pitch an octave).

Bessie Abbott, born Pickens, birthplace Heuvelton, NY. I've been there. Not many people can say that. It's about as remote a little place in far upstate NY (we're not talking Yonkers here!) as you can get. Center of cheese manufacturing back in the day, as it's in dairy farm country---growing season is too short for crop farming. How on earth anyone ever made it out of there to the Big Time beggars the imagination!

I tried pulling it up to D Minor, but it sounds artificial and is obviously not correct. I think what DAHR and other sources say about it being in C minor is correct. At least to my ears.

[melvind]

Thanks for posting the link to Florence Foster Jenkins. Every time I hear it, I laugh very hard and with the virus around I needed it.

[epigramophone]

In this aria the Queen of the Night places a knife in the hand of her daughter Pamina and exhorts her to murder the High Priest Sarastro, otherwise she will disown her. The aria's title translates as "Hell's vengeance boils in my heart".

Not much anger in Bessie Abbott's rather bland performance. When comparing historic recordings, Frieda Hempel's is often quoted as the one by which all others should be judged, but good as it is, I prefer Maria Ivogun's version on Odeon.

[CarlosV]

In this aria the Queen of the Night places a knife in the hand of her daughter Pamina and exhorts her to murder the High Priest Sarastro, otherwise she will disown her. The aria's title translates as "Hell's vengeance boils in my heart".

Not much anger in Bessie Abbott's rather bland performance. When comparing historic recordings, Frieda Hempel's is often quoted as the one by which all others should be judged, but good as it is, I prefer Maria Ivogun's version on Odeon.

A very unique version is the recording of Maria Galvany for Pathé.

[Henry]

Hard to imagine anyone doing it better than Diana Damrau, or even approaching her, for that matter. Thanks, melvind, for posting those links!

[AZ*]

Hard to imagine anyone doing it better than Diana Damrau, or even approaching her, for that matter. Thanks, melvind, for posting those links!

Wholeheartedly agree. Diana is my personal favorite Queen of the Night. Not only can she sing, but she can act too. There is more to opera than just singing. Some divas just stand there and go through the motions. Diana brings the fire to the role it demands.

P.S. I do own this version of Die Zauberflöte on Blu-ray.

[melvind]

P.S. I do own this version of Die Zauberflöte on Blu-ray.

Me too!