Track Listing

CD 1 (76:44)

GRAMOPHONE & TYPEWRITER, LTD.

Warsaw, 1902

Recorded by Franz Hampe

1.DON GIOVANNI: Fin ch’han dal vino (Mozart)2:35
 (439z) 52663 
2.TANNHÄUSER: Wie Todesahnung … O du mein holder Abendstern (Forier di morte … Oh! tu bell’astro incantator) (Wagner)3:17
 (440z) 52664
Transposed up a tone to A		 
3.EUGENE ONEGIN: Kogdabizhizndomashnimkrugom (Se dell’Imen la dolce cura) (Tchaikovsky)2:55
 (441z) 52665 
4.DON GIOVANNI: Deh vieni alla finestra (Mozart)2:21
 (442z) 52666 
5.La mantilla (Álvarez)2:48
 (443z) 52667 
6.Occhi di fata (Denza)2:41
 (444z) 52668 
7.Ancora (Tosti)3:13
 (445z) 52669 
8.THE DEMON: Ne plach, ditya (No, non plorar tu piangi invano) (Rubinstein)2:45
 (446z) 52670 
9.IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA: Largo al factotum (Rossini)3:17
 (447z) 52671 
10.FAUST: Avant de quitter ces lieux (Dio possente) (Gounod)3:25
 (448z) 52672 
11.LA FAVORITA: In questo suolo ... Ah! l’alto ardor (Donizetti)3:44
 with Tilde Carotini, mezzo-soprano
(449z) 54034		 

GRAMOPHONE & TYPEWRITER, LTD.

Milan, 12 November 1906

Recorded by Frederick W. Gaisberg

12.PER LA PATRIA: Or limpida m’appare la superba visione! (Cocchi)3:19
 (866c) 052140 

GRAMOPHONE & TYPEWRITER, LTD.

Milan, mid-November1906

Recorded by Frederick W. Gaisberg

13.ERNANI: Oh de’ verd’anni miei (Verdi)3:06
 (874C) 052141 
14.ERNANI: Da quel dì che t’ho veduta (Verdi)4:24
 with Emilia Corsi, soprano
(876c) 054103		 
15.UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Alla vita che t’arride (Verdi)3:18
 (877c) 052142 
16.ERNANI: Lo vedremo o veglio audace (Verdi)3:22
 with Aristodemo Sillich, bass
(879c) 054105x		 
17.ERNANI: Lo vedremo o veglio audace (Verdi)3:19
 with Aristodemo Sillich, bass
(879 ½c) 054105		 
18.ERNANI: Vieni meco, sol di rose (Verdi)2:33
 with Emilia Corsi, soprano; and chorus
(880c) 054106		 
19.ERNANI: O sommo Carlo (Verdi)4:03
 with Emilia Corsi, soprano; Luigi Colazza, tenor; Aristodemo Sillich, bass; and chorus
(881c) 054107		 
20.DON GIOVANNI: Alfin siam liberati, Zerlinetta gentil … Là ci darem la mano (Mozart)4:19
 with Emilia Corsi, soprano
(882c) 054104		 
21.MARTHA: Povero Lionello … Il mio Lionel perirà (Flotow)3:53
 (883c) 052143 
22.LA FAVORITA: A tanto amor (Donizetti)4:01
 (884c) 052144 
23.DOM SÉBASTIEN: Ô Lisbonne, ô ma patrie! (O Lisbona, alfin ti miro) (Donizetti)4:05
 (885c) 052145 

CD 2 (79:13)

GRAMOPHONE & TYPEWRITER, LTD.

Milan, mid-November 1906

Recorded by Frederick W. Gaisberg

1.UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Eri tu che macchiavi (Verdi)4:23
 (886C) 052146 
2.LA DAMNATION DE FAUST: Voici des roses (Su queste rose) (Berlioz)3:34
 (888c) 052147 
3.ZAMPA: Pourquoi, pourquoi vous troubler (Perchè tremar?) (Hérold)4:02
 (889c) 052148 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 2 June 1911

Recorded by Frederick W. Gaisberg

4.PAGLIACCI: Si Può? [Prologue] (Leoncavallo)7:37
 (260ai/261ai) 052305/052306 
5.WERTHER: J’aurais sur ma poitrine (Avrei sovra il mio petto) (Massenet)3:32
 (262ai) 052307 
6.WERTHER: Pourquoi me réveiller (Ah! non mi ridestar) (Massenet)3:36
 (263ai) 052308 
7.HAMLET: Comme une pâle fleur (Come il romito fior) (Thomas)3:03
 (267ai) 052309 
8.Le soir (Gounod)4:05
 (268ai) 052310 
9.Amour, amour (Tosti)3:08
 (269ai) 052311 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 3 June 1911

Recorded by Frederick W. Gaisberg

10.TOSCA: Tre sbirri, una carrozza [Te Deum] (Puccini)3:50
 with chorus
(270ai) 052312		 
11.TOSCA: Tre sbirri, una carrozza [Te Deum] (Puccini)3:47
 with chorus
(271ai) unpublished		 
12.HAMLET: O vin dissipe la tristesse (O vin discaccia la tristezza) (Thomas)3:43
 with chorus
(272ai) 052302		 
13.THAÏS: Baigne d’eau mes mains et mes lèvres (D’acqua aspergimi) (Massenet)3:26
 with Ebe Boccolini, soprano
(273ai) assigned 054318 but published only on HM 47		 
14.TANNHÄUSER: Als du in kühnem Sange (Allor che tu coll’estro) (Wagner)3:16
 (274ai) 052303 
15.FAUST: O sainte médaille … Avant de quitter ces lieux (O santa medaglia ... Dio possente) (Gounod)4:11
 (275ai) 052313 
16.I PURITANI: Ah! per sempre io ti perdei (Bellini)3:12
 (276ai) 052314 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 6 June 1911

Recorded by Frederick W. Gaisberg

17.THAÏS: Baigne d’eau mes mains et mes lèvres (D’acqua aspergimi) (Massenet)3:09
 with Attilia Janni, soprano
(277ai) unpublished		 
18.THAÏS: Baigne d’eau mes mains et mes lèvres (D’acqua aspergimi) (Massenet)3:11
 with Attilia Janni, soprano
(278ai) 054317		 
19.MARIA DI ROHAN: Son cifre di Riccardo! … Bella è di sol vestita (Donizetti)3:57
 (281ai) 052315 
20.I PURITANI: Bel sogno beato di pace (Bellini)2:59
 (284ai) 052316 
21.LA TRAVIATA: Mio figlio! Oh, quanto soffri … Di Provenza il mar (Verdi)3:32
 (285ai) 052317 

CD 3 (79:49)

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 6 June 1911

Recorded by Frederick W. Gaisberg

1.TANNHÄUSER: Blick’ ich umher in diesem edlen Kreise (Nel rimirar quest’adunanza) (Wagner)4:00
 (286ai) 052318
Transposed up a semi-tone to E		 
2.TANNHÄUSER: Wie Todesahnung … O du mein holder Abendstern (Forier di morte … Oh! tu bell’astro incantator) (Wagner)3:32
 (287ai) 052304
Transposed up a tone to A		 
3.Culto (Denza)2:59
 (288ai) 052319 
4.Ideale (Tosti)3:19
 (289ai) 052320 
5.O ma charmante (Quaranta)3:45
 (290ai) 052321 
6.Mia sposa sarà la mia bandiera (Rotoli)4:26
 (291ai) 052322 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 7 June 1911

Recorded by Frederick W. Gaisberg

7.La serenata (Tosti)3:16
 (292ai) 052323 
8.La gondola nera (Rotoli)3:51
 (293ai) 052324 
9.Non m’ama più (Tosti)3:54
 (294ai) unpublished 
10.Non m’ama più (Tosti)4:08
 (295ai) 052325 
11.Mia sposa sarà la mia bandiera (Rotoli)4:16
 (296ai) 052326 issued only in Russia and Germany
Sung in B Minor; a semi-tone higher than matrix (291ai)		 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 25 May 1912

Recorded by Edmund J. Pearse

12.L’AFRICAINE: Fille des rois (Figlia di regi) (Meyerbeer)4:21
 (214af) 052357 
13.L’AFRICAINE: Mais, pour lui, pour Vasco (Ma per questo stranier) (Meyerbeer)3:07
 (215af) 052358 
14.L’AFRICAINE: L’avoir tant adorée … Écrase-moi, tonnerre! (Averla tanto amata … O folgor, su me piomba!) (Meyerbeer)3:41
 (216af) 052359 
15.LINDA DI CHAMOUNIX: Ambo nati in questa valle (Donizetti)4:24
 (217af) 052360 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 27 May 1912

Recorded by Edmund J. Pearse

16.QUO VADIS?: Errer à travers les mers (Errare per l’ampio mar) (Nouguès)4:16
 (218af) 052361 
17.QUO VADIS?: Vois, Phoebé elle-même (Or Febea pur essa) (Nouguès)3:24
 (219af) 052362 
18.LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR: Cruda funesta smania (Donizetti)4:09
 (220af) 052363 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 28 May 1912

Recorded by Edmund J. Pearse

19.PAGLIACCI: Decidi il mio destin (Leoncavallo)2:58
 with Maria Mościska, soprano
(221af) 054389		 
20.PAGLIACCI: E allor perché (Leoncavallo)3:53
 with Maria Mościska, soprano
(222af) 054390		 
21.RIGOLETTO: O mia Gilda! (Verdi)4:08
 with Maria Mościska, soprano
(223af) 054392		 

CD 4 (73:45)

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 28 May 1912

Recorded by Edmund J. Pearse

1.LINDA DI CHAMOUNIX: Un buon servo del visconte (Donizetti)4:42
 with Maria Mościska, soprano
(224af) 054393		 
2.LA TRAVIATA: Madamigella Valéry? ... Pura siccome un angelo (Verdi)4:04
 with Maria Mościska, soprano
(225½af) 054395		 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 29 May 1912

Recorded by Edmund J. Pearse

3.GUILLAUME TELL: Mon fils … Sois immobile (Ti benedico, figlio mio … Resta immobile) (Rossini)4:37
 (226af) 052364 
4.QUO VADIS?: Amici, l’ora attesta è questa (Nouguès)4:30
 (227af) 052365 
5.OTELLO: E qual certezza sognate … Era la notte (Verdi)4:06
 (228af) 052366
A portion of this aria is transposed up a semi-tone to D-flat		 
6.Delizia [Trauerwalzer No. 2, D. 365] (Schubert)4:17
 (229af) 052367 
7.HÉRODIADE: Vision fugitive (Vision fuggitiva) (Massenet)3:29
 (233af) 052368 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 30 May 1912

Recorded by Edmund J. Pearse

8.MACBETH: Perfidi! All’Anglo contro me … Pietà, rispetto, amore (Verdi)4:17
 (234af) 052369 
9.NÉRON: Hymen! Hymen! fils d’Uranie (Imen! Imen, sòrte di vita) [Epithalamium] (Rubinstein)3:26
 (235af) 052370 
10.Occhi di fata (Denza)2:38
 (236af) 052371 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 2 June 1913

Recorded by Frederick W. Gaisberg

11.DON GIOVANNI: Deh, vieni alla finestra (Mozart)2:08
 (17569b) 2-52847 
12.LA FAVORITA: Vien, Leonora … Ah! Mia Leonora … De’ nemici tuoi lo sdegno (Donizetti)4:50
 (17570b/17571b) 2-52848/2-52849 
13.Malìa (Tosti)2:53
 (2807c) 052403 
14.DON CARLO: Felice ancor io son … Per me giunto (Verdi)3:48
 (2808c) 052404 
15.DON CARLO: O Carlo ascolta (Verdi)5:03
 (2809½c) 052405 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 3 June 1913

Recorded by Frederick W. Gaisberg

16.UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Ve’, se di notte (Verdi)3:46
 with Elvira Barbieri, soprano; Vincenzo Bettoni, bass; and chorus
(2812c) 054449		 
17.ERNANI: Uscite … Vedi come il buon vegliardo (Verdi)4:39
 with Elvira Barbieri, soprano; Giuseppe Tommasini, tenor; and Vincenzo Bettoni, bass
(2813½c) 054450		 
18.IL TROVATORE: Qual voce, come! tu, donna? … Mira, di acerbe lagrime (Verdi)3:03
 with Elvira Barbieri, soprano
(2815½c) 054452		 
19.IL TROVATORE: Conte! Ne cessi? Grazia! … Vivrà! Contende il giubilo (Verdi)3:29
 with With Elvira Barbieri, soprano
(2816c) 054453		 

CD 5 (79:43)

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 3 June 1913

Recorded by Frederick W. Gaisberg

1.FAUST: Par ici, par ici, mes amis! … Écoute-moi bien, Marguerite! (Per di quà … Non val … Stammi ad udir, Margherita!) (Gounod)7:03
 with Elvira Barbieri, soprano; and chorus
(2817c/2820c) 054454/054455		 
2.FAUST: Par ici, par ici (Per di quà … Non val) (Gounod)2:28
 with Elvira Barbieri, soprano; and chorus
(2819c) unpublished		 
3.UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Ve’, se di notte (Verdi)3:34
 with Elvira Barbieri, soprano; Vincenzo Bettoni, bass; and chorus
(2821c) 054449x		 

La Société Suisse des Disques Phonographiques d’Art

Zürich, ca. 1920

4.Ideale (Tosti)4:00
 (C5002) C3002 
5.Caro mio ben (Giordani)3:39
 (C5008) C3003 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 21 May 1921

Recorded by Raymond R. Sooy

6.La mantilla (Álvarez)2:49
 (BA1-2) 7-62029 
7.LE ROI DE LAHORE: Aux troupes du Sultan … Promesse de mon avenir (Le barbare tribù … O casto fior) (Massenet)4:05
 (CA2-3) 2-052201 
8.Vittoria, vittoria, mio core! (Carissimi)2:37
  (BA3-1) 7-52192 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 22 May 1921

Recorded by Raymond R. Sooy

9.RUY BLAS: Io scacciato! Io bandito! … Ai miei rivali cedere (Marchetti)4:16
 (CA4-1) 2-052202 
10.DON CARLO: Felice ancor io son … Per me giunto (Verdi)3:52
 (CA5-1) 2-052203 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 23 May 1921

Recorded by Raymond R. Sooy

11.TANNHÄUSER: Wie Todesahnung … O du mein holder Abendstern (Forier di morte … Oh! tu bell’astro incantator) (Wagner)3:40
 (CA6-2) 2-052204
Transposed up a tone to A		 
12.ERNANI: O sommo Carlo (Verdi)3:47
 with Giuseppe Taccani, tenor; Jannina De Witt, soprano; and chorus
(CA7-2) 2-054118		 
13.RIGOLETTO: No, vecchio, t’inganni … Sì, vendetta! (Verdi)2:26
 with Lulu Hayes, soprano
(BA8-2) 7-54018		 
14.LA GIOCONDA: Così mantieni il patto? … Ebbrezza! delirio! (Ponchielli)4:24
 with Jannina De Witt, soprano
(CA9-2) 2-054119		 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 24 May 1921

Recorded by Raymond R. Sooy

15.MARIA DI ROHAN: Voce fatal di morte (Donizetti)3:27
 (CA10-1) 2-052207 
16.LA FAVORITA: Vien, Leonora … De’ nemici tuoi lo sdegno (Donizetti)4:22
 with Alberto Trevisan, flute obbligato
(CA11-1) 2-052208		 
17.LA FORZA DEL DESTINO: E la fè che giurai? … Urna fatale (Verdi)4:10
 (CA12-2) unpublished 
18.LA FORZA DEL DESTINO: E s’altra prova rinvenir potessi? … Egli è salvo! (Verdi)2:42
 (BA13-2) 7-52194 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 26 May 1921

Recorded by William J. Beckwith

19.MARIA DI ROHAN: Voce fatal di morte (Donizetti)3:44
 (CM24) unpublished 
20.LA FAVORITA: Vien, Leonora … De’ nemici tuoi lo sdegno (Donizetti)4:18
 (CM26) unpublished 
21.MARIA DI RUDENZ: Egli ancora non giunge … Ah! non avea più lagrime (Donizetti)4:17
 (CM27) 2-052209 

CD 6 (77:37)

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 22 February 1924

Recorded by George W. Dillnutt

1.LA FORZA DEL DESTINO: E la fè che giurai? … Urna fatale (Verdi)4:00
 (Ck1418-1) 2-052251 
2.UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Alla vita che t’arride (Verdi)2:51
 (Bk1422-1) 7-52264 
3.LA FAVORITA: A tanto amor (Donizetti)3:51
 (Ck1423-1) 2-052253 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 24 February 1924

Recorded by George W. Dillnutt

4.DON CARLO: O Carlo ascolta … Io morrò (Verdi)3:40
 (Ck1419-3) 2-052252 
5.UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Non è su lei, nel suo fragile petto … Eri tu che macchiavi (Verdi)4:48
 (Ck1424-1) 2-052254 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 25 February 1924

Recorded by George W. Dillnutt

6.LE NOZZE DI FIGARO: Non più andrai (Mozart)3:48
 (Ck1427-2) 2-052255
Transposed up a semi-tone to D-flat		 
7.PARIDE ED ELENA: O del mio dolce ardor (Gluck)3:42
 (Ck1428-2) 2-052256 
8.Si vous l’aviez compris (Denza)3:38
 (Ck1429) 2-032079 

THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD.

Milan, 27 February 1924

Recorded by George W. Dillnutt

9.IL GUARANY: Olà dunque, miei bravi! … Senza tetto, senza cuna (Gomes)3:32
 (Ck1432-3) 2-052257 
10.DON GIOVANNI: Deh, vieni alla finestra (Mozart)2:08
 (Bk1433-3) 2-52265 
11.La partida (Álvarez)4:14
 (CK1434-2) unpublished 

APPENDIX 1

Mattia Battistini’s only non-commercial recording

12.TANNHÄUSER: Da scheinest du … O du mein holder Abendstern (Or splendi tu … Oh! tu bell’astro incantator) (Wagner)2:15
 Privately made 2-minute cylinder recorded Berlin circa 1898
Transposed up a semi-tone to A-flat
Note: The cylinder runs out of time before the end of the aria.		 

APPENDIX 2

Giuseppe Bellantoni, Baritone

1880-1946

Selected Fonotipia Recordings, Milan, 1910-1911

13.Occhi di fata (Denza)3:31
 16 March 1910 (XPh 4274-1) 62468 
14.L’ultima canzone (Tosti)3:01
 16 March 1910 (XPh 4275-1) 62469 
15.Luna cortese (Valente)2:52
 21 March 1910 (XPh 4285-1) 62467 
16.Chianiutedda mia (Graffeo)3:12
 21 March 1910 (XPh 4286-1) 62466 
17.UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Alla vita che t’arride (Verdi)3:03
 24 March 1910 (XPh 4298) unpublished 
18.SAFFO: Di sua voce il suon giungea (Pacini)3:35
 16 January 1911 (XPh 4495-1) 92784 
19.SAFFO: Mesta elegia Saffo sciogliendo ... Un’ Erinni atroce, orrenda (Pacini)3:08
 17 February 1911 (XPh 4531-1) 92785 
20.HÉRODIADE: Vision fugitive (Vision fuggitiva) (Masssenet)3:44
 26 October 1910 (XPh 4400-1) 92679 
21.RUY BLAS: Ai miei rivali cedere (Marchetti)3:03
 29 October 1910 (XPh 4405-1) 92730 
22.SIEGFRIED: Wache, wala! (Veglia, Wala!) (Wagner)6:00
 25 November1910 and 16 January 1911 (XPh 4423-1/XPh 4498-1) 92725/92726 
 

CD 1:
Accompaniment: Tracks [1-11] with piano; Tracks [12-23] with orchestra conducted by Carlo Sabajno
Language: All tracks sung in Italian except: Track [5] sung in Spanish
Track 12: The record label gives the title incorrectly as “Bella Italia.”
CD 2:
Accompaniment: Tracks [1-7, 10-21] with orchestra conducted by Carlo Sabajno; Tracks [8-9] with Carlo Sabajno, piano
Language: All tracks sung in Italian except: Tracks [8-9] sung in French
Track 5: The record label gives the title incorrectly as “Ma come dopo il nembo,” which is sung toward the middle of the record.
CD 3:
Accompaniment: Tracks [1-2, 12-21] with orchestra conducted by Carlo Sabajno Tracks [3-11] with Carlo Sabajno, piano;
Language: All tracks sung in Italian except: Track [5] sung in French
Tracks 16-17: The titles of these arias are given incorrectly on the original labels
CD 4:
Accompaniment: Tracks [1-5, 11-19] with orchestra conducted by Carlo Sabajno; Tracks (6-10) with Carlo Sabajno, piano
Language: All tracks sung in Italian
Track 4: This aria was written for Battistini to an Italian text, and is not part of the French score.
CD 5:
Accompaniment: Tracks [1-3, 6-7, 9-20] with orchestra conducted by Carlo Sabajno; Tracks [4-5] with piano accompaniment; Track [8 and 21] with Carlo Sabajno, piano
Language: All tracks sung in Italian except: Track [6] sung in Spanish
Track 21: Battistini sings “Ella ancora non giunge,” having changed the original text
CD 6:
Accompaniment: Tracks [1-7, 9-10] with orchestra conducted by Carlo Sabajno; Track [8] accompanied by violin, cello, and piano; Tracks [11-12] with piano; Tracks [13-17] with Angelo Bettinelli, piano; Tracks [18-22] with orchestra
Language: All tracks sung in Italian except: Track [8] sung in French; Track [11] sung in Spanish

 

Producers: Scott Kessler and Ward Marston

Audio conservation: Ward Marston and J. Richard Harris

Booklet Design: Michael Aspinall

Booklet Design: Takeshi Takahashi

 

Photographs: Marston would like to thank Girvice Archer, Gregor Benko, André Tubeuf, and Peter van der Waal.

Original recordings: Marston would like to thank the following for making rare recordings available for the production of this compilation:
Gregor Benko, Bill and Kenny Breslin, Marco and David Contini, J. Neil Forster, Harry Glaze, Lawrence F. Holdridge, Larry Lustig, Jeffrey Miller, and Jim Stephens.

Marston would like to extend special thanks to our close friend, Lawrence F. Holdridge, who has generously made available his complete collection of Battistini recordings, many of which are pristine special shellac and vinyl pressings from the original metal masters. Working with these discs has been immensely pleasurable because it has enabled us to present Battistini in the best possible sound.

Marston would like to extend special thanks to Elizabeth Black and Dr. Mark Duijnstee for editorial advice.

Marston would like to thank Michael Begley for his financial contribution toward the production of this set.