Amelita Galli-Curci

Composers

Biography

Born: November 18, 1882   Died: November 26, 1963  
Amelita Galli-Curci was one of the first female operatic stars of the phonograph. Among the many tributes paid her was one from Compton Mackenzie, the founder of Gramophone magazine, who said he could accept old age if he had as many records of Galli-Curci as of Caruso.

Her background was Italian and Spanish. Born Amelita Galli, she was a piano student in a well-to-do musical household. The well-known opera composer Mascagni visited her Read more parents and on hearing her play and sing recommended that she become a singer. After that, Amelita diligently taught herself. She made her debut in 1906 as Gilda in Rigoletto, which remained a favorite role, and she took about ten years -- a fairly typical amount of time -- to become a star. She married the Marchese di Sineri and added his family name of Curci to her own. On her birthday in 1916 she scored a major triumph in Chicago, in Rigoletto, that made her an international star.

She had a fluid, clear, very beautiful voice and a great gift for sustaining lyric lines. She was at her best in roles calling for grace, pathos, and happiness and had neither the stage temperament nor the dramatic style needed for fiery, tempestuous parts. She is said to have lacked stage presence. Her voice recorded very well, particularly in the acoustic process, where it was taken down with such clarity and resonance that listeners supposed it was a large-sounding voice, which it was not, in person. The adjective that live listeners used frequently for her voice was "celestial." Her range at her peak was to the E above high C.

During the last days of the acoustic recording era (around 1924) musicians began to notice a curious lack of precision in intonation above the note F. At the same time, the top notes of her range began to lose their penetration. This was at the same time the shift to electrical recording took place. In 1935 it was discovered that she had a goiter, a form of throat tumor that had progressively been closing off the flow of her breath. It was surgically removed, but she never recovered her vocal powers. Read less
Browse 1-25 of 44 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    Dream Ticket To La Traviata
    Dream Ticket To La Traviata
    Label: Preiser Records   Catalog: 21004 Release Date: 04/10/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer:  Anna Moffo,  Richard Tucker,  Amelita Galli-Curci,  Tito Schipa  ... 
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  • 2.
    Caruso - Duets & Ensembles / Alda, Amato, De Luca, Et Al
    Caruso - Duets & Ensembles / Alda, Amato, De Luca, Et Al
    Label: Rca Victor Gold Seal   Catalog: 61638 Release Date: 10/17/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Gaetano Donizetti,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Antonio Carlos Gomes,  Anton y Michelena  ... 
    Performer:  Enrico Caruso,  Giuseppe de Luca,  Minnie Egener,  Amelita Galli-Curci  ... 
    Conductor:  Josef Pasternack,  Gaetano Scognamiglio,  Walter Rogers
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestra,  Metropolitan Opera Chorus
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  • 3.
    Icon - Beniamino Gigli - Tenor Legend
    Icon - Beniamino Gigli - Tenor Legend
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 55693 Release Date: 03/23/2010   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini,  Ruggero Leoncavallo,  Pietro Mascagni,  Giuseppe Verdi  ... 
    Performer:  Beniamino Gigli,  Licia Albanese,  Leone Paci,  Giuseppe Nessi  ... 
    Conductor:  Umberto Berrettoni,  Franco Ghione,  Carlo Sabajno,  Walter Goehr  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra,  Orchestra,  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
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  • 4.
    The Record Of Singing - The Very Best Of Vol 1-4
    The Record Of Singing - The Very Best Of Vol 1-4
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 28956 Release Date: 03/10/2009   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Franz Schubert,  Arthur Sullivan,  Giacomo Puccini,  Jacques Offenbach  ... 
    Performer:  Marian Anderson,  Kosti Vehanen,  Dame Clara Butt,  Richard Crooks  ... 
    Conductor:  Clemens Schmalstich,  Clarence Raybould,  Georges Lauweryns,  Nat Finston  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin State Opera Orchestra,  Orchestra,  Pasdeloup Concert Association Orchestra  ... 
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  • 5.
    The Very Best Of Benjamino Gigli
    The Very Best Of Benjamino Gigli
    Label: Idi   Catalog: 6522 Release Date: 07/24/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Gaetano Donizetti,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Ambroise Thomas,  Giacomo Meyerbeer  ... 
    Performer:  Beniamino Gigli,  Ezio Pinza,  Angelo Bada,  Amelita Galli-Curci  ... 
    Conductor:  Giulio Setti,  Rosario Bourdon,  Bruno Reibold,  Sir John Barbirolli  ... 
    On sale! $33.98
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  • 6.
    Opera Masters
    Opera Masters
    Label: Forlane   Catalog: FOR16718 Release Date: 07/10/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi,  Giacomo Puccini,  Gaetano Donizetti,  Georges Bizet  ... 
    Performer:  Amelita Galli-Curci,  Tito Schipa,  Beniamino Gigli,  Maria Caniglia  ... 
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  • 7.
    The Essential Collection - Great Sopranos, Contraltos, Et Al
    The Essential Collection - Great Sopranos, Contraltos, Et Al
    Label: West End Records   Catalog: 892 Release Date: 02/20/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Vincenzo Bellini,  Antonio Lotti,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    Performer:  Maria Callas,  Adelina Patti,  Landon Ronald,  Elisabeth Schwarzkopf  ... 
    Conductor:  Arturo Basile,  Josef Krips,  George Byng,  Eugene Ormandy  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Turin,  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Orchestra  ... 
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  • 8.
    Prima Voce - Enrico Caruso - Opera Vol 3
    Prima Voce - Enrico Caruso - Opera Vol 3
    Label: Nimbus   Catalog: 7924 Release Date: 08/09/2005   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Pietro Mascagni,  Amilcare Ponchielli,  Georges Bizet,  Gioachino Rossini  ... 
    Performer:  Francis Lapitino,  Enrico Caruso,  Emmy Destinn,  Antonio [Baritone Vocals] Scotti  ... 
    Conductor:  Josef Pasternack,  Giulio Setti
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  • 9.
    Great Voices Of The Past - Favorite French Excerpts
    Great Voices Of The Past - Favorite French Excerpts
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 8016 Release Date: 07/01/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Georges Bizet,  Jacques Halévy,  Gustave Charpentier,  Edouard Lalo  ... 
    Performer:  Rosa Ponselle,  Emmy Destinn,  Lawrence Tibbett,  Enrico Caruso  ... 
    Conductor:  Erno Rapée,  Carlo Sabajno,  Rosario Bourdon,  Alberto Erede  ... 
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  • 10.
    Great Voices Of The Past - Light Opera Gems
    Great Voices Of The Past - Light Opera Gems
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 8015 Release Date: 07/01/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Gioachino Rossini,  Gaetano Donizetti,  Franz Lehár,  Friedrich von Flotow  ... 
    Performer:  Gino Bechi,  Ezio Pinza,  Maria Reining,  Helge Rosvaenge  ... 
    Conductor:  Franz Lehár,  Percy Pitt,  Carlo Sabajno
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  • 11.
    Great Voices Of The Past - The Sopranos
    Great Voices Of The Past - The Sopranos
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 8013 Release Date: 07/01/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Léo Delibes,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Georges Bizet,  Giacomo Puccini  ... 
    Performer:  Amelita Galli-Curci,  Claudia Muzio,  Conchita Supervia,  Magda Olivero  ... 
    Conductor:  Ugo Tansini,  Fritz Stiedry,  Hector Panizza,  Richard Kraus  ... 
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  • 12.
    Great Voices Of The Past - Verdi's Masterworks Vol 2
    Great Voices Of The Past - Verdi's Masterworks Vol 2
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 8014 Release Date: 07/01/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer:  Tancredi Pasero,  Tito Schipa,  Nina Garelli,  Elvino Ventura  ... 
    Conductor:  Rosario Bourdon,  Vittorio Gui,  Carlo Sabajno,  Herbert Sandberg  ... 
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  • 13.
    Great Verdi Singers At Regio Di Parma 1905-1949
    Label: Hardy Classics   Catalog: 7001 Release Date: 06/03/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer:  Amelita Galli-Curci,  Maria Caniglia,  Ebe Stignani,  Carlo Tagliabue  ... 
    On sale! $29.98
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  • 14.
    The Nightingales - Lakme, Etc / Callas, Galli-curci, Et Al
    The Nightingales - Lakme, Etc / Callas, Galli-curci, Et Al
    Label: Fono Enterprise   Catalog: 1076 Release Date: 01/07/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi,  Léo Delibes,  Gaetano Donizetti,  Vincenzo Bellini
    Performer:  Amelita Galli-Curci
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  • 15.
    A Voice From Heaven / Maria Callas
    A Voice From Heaven / Maria Callas
    Label: Fono Enterprise   Catalog: 1068 Release Date: 09/03/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Wagner,  Giacomo Puccini,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Vincenzo Bellini
    Performer:  Maria Callas,  Renata Tebaldi,  Claudia Muzio,  Kirsten Flagstad  ... 
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  • 16.
    Great Voices Of The Past - Opera's Greates Heroines
    Great Voices Of The Past - Opera's Greates Heroines
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 8009 Release Date: 08/06/2002   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini,  Gasparo Spontini,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Gustave Charpentier  ... 
    Performer:  Amelita Galli-Curci,  Magda Olivero,  Helen Traubel,  Lily Pons  ... 
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  • 17.
    Great Voices Of The Past - The Age Of Bel Canto
    Great Voices Of The Past - The Age Of Bel Canto
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 8006 Release Date: 05/07/2002   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  George Frideric Handel,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Christoph W. Gluck,  Gioachino Rossini  ... 
    Performer:  Marcella Sembrich,  Maria Ivogün,  Nellie Melba,  Helen Traubel  ... 
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  • 18.
    Great Voices Of The Past - Great Opera Ensembles
    Great Voices Of The Past - Great Opera Ensembles
    Label: Opera D'oro   Catalog: 8003 Release Date: 01/01/2002   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi,  Gioachino Rossini,  Richard Wagner,  Charles Gounod  ... 
    Performer:  Lawrence Tibbett,  Herman Dreeben,  Nicholas Massue,  Henri Albers  ... 
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  • 19.
    Rca Red Seal Century - Vocalists
    Rca Red Seal Century - Vocalists
    Label: Rca Victor Red Seal   Catalog: 63860 Release Date: 11/06/2001   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Gioachino Rossini,  Ruggero Leoncavallo,  Jean-Philippe Rameau,  Giuseppe Verdi  ... 
    Performer:  Luisa Tetrazzini,  Titta Ruffo,  Giovanni Martinelli,  Alma Gluck  ... 
    Conductor:  Josef Pasternack,  Rosario Bourdon,  Renato Cellini,  Marcello Viotti  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestra,  RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra,  Munich Radio Symphony Orchestra  ... 
    On sale! $29.98
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  • 20.
    Opera Arias / Beniamino Gigli
    Opera Arias / Beniamino Gigli
    Label: Fono Enterprise   Catalog: 1003 Release Date: 06/05/2001   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer:  Maria Caniglia,  Ebe Stignani,  Beniamino Gigli,  Gino Bechi  ... 
    Conductor:  Tullio Serafin
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Rome Opera House Orchestra,  Rome Opera House Chorus,  Orchestra
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  • 21.
    Viva Verdi!
    Viva Verdi!
    Label: Preiser Records   Catalog: 89223 Release Date: 04/24/2001   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer:  Toti Dal Monte,  Mariano Stabile,  Elisabeth Rethberg,  Mario Basiola  ... 
    CD: $39.99
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  • 22.
    Maria Callas & The Great Sopranos
    Maria Callas & The Great Sopranos
    Label: Avid   Catalog: 707 Release Date: 03/27/2001  
    Composer:  Gustave Charpentier,  Umberto Giordano,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Charles Gounod  ... 
    Performer:  Nellie Melba,  Claudia Muzio,  Elisabeth Rethberg,  Victoria de los Angeles  ... 
    Conductor:  Walter Rogers,  Lorenzo Molajoli,  Rosario Bourdon,  Walter Susskind  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Philadelphia Orchestra,  Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Turin
    CD: $14.99
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  • 23.
    Prima Voce Vol 2 - Treasury Of Opera - Historic Recordings
    Prima Voce Vol 2 - Treasury Of Opera - Historic Recordings
    Label: Nimbus   Catalog: 1738 Release Date: 11/28/2000   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Alexander Borodin,  Félicien César David,  Jacques Offenbach,  Ruggero Leoncavallo  ... 
    Performer:  Nina Koshetz,  Feodor Chaliapin,  Clement Barone,  Amelita Galli-Curci  ... 
    Conductor:  Josef Pasternack,  Franco Ghione,  Rosario Bourdon,  Hans Lange  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra,  Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 24.
    References - Beniamino Gigli - Opera Arias
    References - Beniamino Gigli - Opera Arias
    Label: Emi Classics Special Import   Catalog: 61051 Release Date: 11/07/2000   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Georges Bizet,  Jules Massenet,  Charles Gounod,  Ruggero Leoncavallo  ... 
    Performer:  Beniamino Gigli,  Maria Caniglia,  Louise Homer,  Amelita Galli-Curci  ... 
    Conductor:  Franco Ghione,  Sir Eugene Goossens,  Umberto Berrettoni,  Oliviero de Fabritiis  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra,  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
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  • 25.
    The Golden Age Of Singing Vol 2 - 1910-1920
    The Golden Age Of Singing Vol 2 - 1910-1920
    Label: Nimbus   Catalog: 7052 Release Date: 08/15/2000   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Gioachino Rossini,  Ruggero Leoncavallo,  Giacomo Puccini,  Camille Saint-Saëns  ... 
    Performer:  Maria Barrientos,  Giuseppe de Luca,  Renato Zanelli,  Titta Ruffo  ... 
    Conductor:  Carlo Sabajno,  Romano Romani,  Walter Rogers
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