Eugenia Burzio: Verismo Soprano

Complete Recorded Operatic Repertoire

COMPLETE TRACK LISTING
LINER NOTES

Eugenia Burzio is known as one of the most famous female interpreters of verismo. She was an actress of gripping intensity whose career centered in Italy and whose recorded legacy closely mirrored her stage career in time and repertoire. Her voice was rich, dramatic and passionate. Like some singers who lived and performed at the cusp of the century, Burzio harkened to the past, using an emphatic open chest voice. This two CD set contains at least one recording of every aria and ensemble recorded by Burzio. It also contains an unpublished test pressing of "Non fui da un padre" from Loreley as well as other rarities on Fonotipia and Pathé. Liner notes are presented by William Ashbrook.

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Track Listing
CD 1 (78:17)
Fonotipia, Milano, 1905-1910
1. L'AFRICANA: Figlia del sol (Meyerbeer) 2:46
22 January 1910; (xph 4271) 62510
2. IL TROVATORE: Tacea la notte (Verdi) 3:04
19 December 1906; (xph 2281) 39934
3. IL TROVATORE: Mira, d'acerbe... Vivrà, contende il giubilo (Verdi) 6:22
with Antonio Magini-Coletti, baritone
16 December 1905; (xph 1534/35) 39439/40
4. UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Ma dall'arido stelo divulsa (Verdi) 5:20
18 December 1905; (xph 1543/44) 39513/14
5. UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Non sai tu... O qual soave brivido (Verdi) 6:10
with Giovanni Zenatello, tenor
23 April 1906; (xph 1829/30) 39665/66
6. LA FORZA DEL DESTINO: Me pellegrina ed orfana (Verdi) 4:03
21 January 1910; (xph 4267) 62417
7. LA FORZA DEL DESTINO: Madre, madre pietosa vergine (Verdi) 3:39
20 January 1910; (xph 4266) 62416
8. LA FORZA DEL DESTINO: Pace, pace, mio Dio (Verdi) 4:54
18 December 1906; (xxph 2279) 74036
9. AIDA: O patria mia (Verdi) 3:07
21 January 1910; (xph 4268) 62414
10. OTELLO: A terra! Sì... nel livido fango (Verdi) 2:34
21 January 1910; (xph 4270) 62419
11. OTELLO: Piangea cantando (Verdi) 3:30
22 January 1910; (xph 4273-2) 62418
12. LA GIOCONDA: Così mantieni il patto? (Ponchielli) 4:28
with Giuseppe De Luca, baritone
31 January 1907; (xxph 2391) 74043
13. MEFISTOFELE: Spunta l'aurora pallida (Boito) 2:50
22 January 1910; (xph 4272) 62415
14. Bacio Vivo: Bettinelli) (2:20
20 January 1910; (xph 4264) 62420
15. Lontananza: Bettinelli) (2:50
20 January 1910; (xph 4265) 62421
16. CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA: Voi lo sapete (Mascagni) 3:41
17 March 1908; (xph 3091) 92160
 
Columbia, Pathé and Phonodisc Mondial, Milano, 1912-1916
17. ADRIANA LECOUVREUR: Io son l'umile ancella (Cilea) 3:25
Columbia (74723) D17529
18. ADRIANA LECOUVREUR: Poveri fiori (Cilea) 3:10
Columbia (11361) D9290
19. LORELEY: Non fui da un padre (Catalani) 2:39
Columbia (11038) unpublished
20. ZULMA: Da tanto tempo (Romani) 2:32
Columbia (11050) D4292
21. ZULMA: Oh! Si ricordiamo (Romani) 1:56
Columbia (11051) D4292
22. LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST: Laggiù nel Soledad (Puccini) 2:46
Columbia (11368) D9290
Tracks 1-15 accompanied by piano; Tracks 16-22 accompanied by orchestra
All tracks are sung in Italian
 
CD 2 (79:04)
Columbia, Pathé and Phonodisc Mondial, Milano, 1912-1916
1. SAFFO: L'amo ognor (Pacini) 3:10
Columbia (11369) D4422
2. NORMA: Casta diva... Ah! Bello a me ritorna (Bellini) 5:53
Columbia (74722/11370) D16325/ D4388
3. NORMA: Qual cor tradisti (Bellini) 2:42
Columbia (11392) D4388
4. NORMA: Deh! Non volerli vittime (Bellini) 4:46
Columbia (11393/94) D4387
5. LA FAVORITA: Pietoso al par (Donizetti) 3:08
Pathé 86380
6. LA FAVORITA: O mio Fernando (Donizetti) 3:52
Pathé 86427
7. LA FAVORITA: Ah! L'alto ardor (Donizetti) 2:48
with Taurino Parvis, baritone
Pathé 86445
8. IL TROVATORE: D'amor sull'ali rosee (Verdi) 3:40
Columbia (74714) D16325
9. UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Morrò, ma prima in grazia (Verdi) 3:47
Pathé 86381
10. OTELLO: Ave Maria (Verdi) 3:26
Columbia (74715) D17526
11. MEFISTOFELE: L'altra notte (Boito) 4:16
Columbia (74716) D17526
12. LA GIOCONDA: Suicidio (Ponchielli) 3:33
Pathé 86424
13. LA GIOCONDA: Ecco la barca... Addio (Ponchielli) 3:12
Pathé 86425
14. CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA: Tu qui Santuzza (Mascagni) 7:19
with Giuseppe Acerbi, tenor
Phonodisc Mondial 711/12
15. TOSCA: O dolci mani (Puccini) 2:24
with Giuseppe Acerbi, tenor
Phonodisc Mondial 708
16. TOSCA: Amaro sol per te (Puccini) 5:22
with Giuseppe Acerbi, tenor
Phonodisc Mondial 709/10
17. Solvejg's Song (Grieg) 3:28
Pathé 84482
18. Madrigale (Simonetti) 2:46
Pathé 84483
19. Visione (Tosti) 2:43
Pathé 84484
20. Torna (Denza) 3:42
Pathé 84485
21. Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod) 2:58
Columbia (11052) D8076
 
Tracks 1-16 accompanied by orchestra; Tracks 17-20 accompanied by violin (Virgilio Ranzato), harp and organ; Tracks 21 accompanied by violin and piano
Tracks 1-20 are sung in Italian; Track 21 is sung in Latin

Photographs: Lawrence F. Holdridge, Charles Mintzer, and the Stuart-Liff Collection

Producers: Scott Kessler and Ward Marston

Audio Conservation: Ward Marston

CD1, Track 2 is re-mastered from a copy in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence C. Witten II in the Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings, Yale University Library
CD1, Track 19 is re-mastered by Richard Bebb from a test pressing in his private collection

Marston would like to thank David Contini, Marco Contini, Sir Paul Getty K.B.E., Dan Hladik, Lawrence F. Holdridge, Peter Lack, Jeffrey Miller and William Shaman

Booklet Design: Takeshi Takahashi