Remembering Galli-Curci

[epigramophone]

The death of the celebrated soprano Amelita Galli-Curci on this day in 1963 passed almost un-noticed, overshadowed as it was by the assassination of President John F Kennedy only four days previously.

The 50th anniversary of JFK's passing has received a great deal of media coverage, and rightly so, but today I shall be remembering Galli-Curci with a few of her finest recordings.

Galli-Curci is my favourite soprano on record. Some contemporary critics said that she lacked the precision of Melba or the dazzling fireworks of Tetrazzini, but in my opinion her voice recorded better than either of those great performers, and it is by their recordings that today's collectors compare them.

Galli-Curci had real beauty of sound. For me her limpid tones, so effortlessly produced, have been a source of listening pleasure ever since I began collecting records. That too was over 50 years ago.

[epigramophone]

On a lighter note, I cannot resist posting this picture of Galli-Curci appearing to listen intently to a Victrola which is not actually playing!

[78 Archivist]

What are your favorite recordings by her?

[Orchorsol]

Galli-Curci is my favourite soprano on record. Some contemporary critics said that she lacked the precision of Melba or the dazzling fireworks of Tetrazzini, but in my opinion her voice recorded better than either of those great performers, and it is by their recordings that today's collectors compare them.

Galli-Curci had real beauty of sound. For me her limpid tones, so effortlessly produced, have been a source of listening pleasure ever since I began collecting records.

I couldn't agree more Roger. Just this weekend Graham and I were revelling in our similar admiration and love of her recordings. I couldn't point to a favourite record - there are many, and seemingly every one has immense charm, whether vocally acrobatic or less so.

[epigramophone]

What are your favorite recordings by her?

My favourite of her operatic recordings is LA SONNAMBULA : Come per me sereno, but the records I have played today (so far) are :

LA TRAVIATA : Sempre libera.
Dite alla giovine/Imponente! with de Luca.
Addio del passato.

Followed by a few songs :

The last rose of Summer.
Home, sweet home.
Parla!
La Paloma.

I may very well be winding up the Chromogram again this evening.

[Henry]

Galli-Curci rules! For those not fortunate enough to own her recordings on 78, there is a fine Nimbus CD re-issue in two volumes, NI 7852 and NI 7806. As for her precision, nobody on record can approach her for accuracy of placement and pitch; her coloratura is dazzling, and breathtaking. She was one of the finest singing musicians ever. And, like Caruso, she possessed the perfect instrument for acoustical recording: her tone is never thin, piercing, or strained. Her line and phrasing were flawless. All musicians, singers and instrumentalists alike, can learn something by listening to her recordings. (And by the way, she was an accomplished concert pianist before she took up singing. There is an informative entry in the Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galli-Curci,_Amelita )

I have the following Galli-Curci 78s, all on Victor Red Seals from 1917-1920:
64723/629B - Caro mio ben
64792/629A - La Capinera
64820 - Traviata: Sempre libera
74499 - Rigoletto: Caro nome
74510 - Lakmé - Dov' e l'Indiana bruna ("Bell Song")
74558 - Puritani: Qui la voce
74653 - Mignon: Io son Titiana

To my ears, the 78s played back on the XI sound superior to the CD transfers!

Thank you for posting this reminder of her greatness!

[epigramophone]

Thankyou Henry.

Although I have about 60 original Galli-Curci recordings on 78, I am also an admirer of the Nimbus Prima Voce re-issues. They have provoked strong views both for and against in the past, but I greatly prefer them to the "warts and all" approach of such as Pearl.

Before Nimbus published their Clara Butt re-issue I made the mistake of buying the Pearl CD, and found the surface noise much worse than on my original 78's, or should I say 80's! How anyone could make Columbia's relatively silent surfaces crackle is hard to imagine, but perhaps the copies Pearl re-mastered were not the best. As soon as the Nimbus CD appeared I bought it.

[Wolfe]

I think they used a mix of U.S. and English Columbia pressings (and HMV) for the Butt CD's on Pearl.


Galli-Curci made some fine records. Though I don'y play her that much, I like her acoustic records best. Lucky for fans there are so many 78's out there. She may be the most easy to find female opera singer on 78's.

[Cody K]

I haven't much to add except to say that I've been fond of Galli-Curci since I discovered a copy of her Io Son Titania several decades ago. I recently acquired a number of Red Seals in excellent condition, among which are several titles by Galli Curci. To hear her again on these very clean copies is a real pleasure.

My favorite picture of her:

[Henry]

....Before Nimbus published their Clara Butt re-issue I made the mistake of buying the Pearl CD, and found the surface noise much worse than on my original 78's, or should I say 80's! How anyone could make Columbia's relatively silent surfaces crackle is hard to imagine, but perhaps the copies Pearl re-mastered were not the best. As soon as the Nimbus CD appeared I bought it.

Speaking of that, the surfaces of my single-side Victor 12" G-Cs are very quiet when played with a soft-tone steel needle (my usual choice for everything---the rebuilt Exhibition/XI combination is *loud*). The Nimbus CD transfers are also very quiet, but they just do not have the presence of the acoustic 78s played on an acoustic machine! It feels like she's practically in the same room with me when I play the originals! (Caruso has the same effect.)

Beautiful picture, Cody K---many thanks!