I've created this website to bring to life voices from long ago. There are plenty of well-known singers here but my aim is to seek out the ones I have never heard - or never heard of!
All records are original 78 rpm in my own collection unless marked as "transfer". I judge the speed by ear, so could get it completely wrong! If you think that any of the sound files are too fast or too slow, let me know!
All records are original 78 rpm in my own collection unless marked as "transfer". I judge the speed by ear, so could get it completely wrong! If you think that any of the sound files are too fast or too slow, let me know!
"The turning point came for me one night when the speaker played Chaliapin singing the ‘Death of Don Quichotte’ by Ibert. The sorrow and anguish in his voice held me spellbound and his final note was so exquisite I felt like sobbing! Silly? Not at all! I had just discovered a medium that could move me as much or more than anything I had ever heard. I had to have that song - not on LP or CD, but on 78!"
Click here to read how and why I became a collector of 78s.
Click here to read how and why I became a collector of 78s.
Focus on a singer!
I was delighted to hear from the niece of this soprano. Thank you for the information!
Maria Luisa Fanelli was born in Chicago to Italian parents in 1898. She studied in Chicago and won a scholarship to continue her operatic training in Italy. She left for Milan around 1920. She studied under Toscanini and Sabajno. On 7.3.1925 she sang the role of Marianne in the world premiere of Zandonai's I Cavalieri di Ekebù with Benvenuto Franci and Fernando Autori. She also sang in Piacenza, Palermo, Bologna and Parma. She returned to Chicago in the early 1940s were she taught singing. She died there in 1988.
Click on the buttons below to hear her singing "Suicidio!" from La Gioconda and "La mamma morta" from Andrea Chénier.
Maria Luisa Fanelli was born in Chicago to Italian parents in 1898. She studied in Chicago and won a scholarship to continue her operatic training in Italy. She left for Milan around 1920. She studied under Toscanini and Sabajno. On 7.3.1925 she sang the role of Marianne in the world premiere of Zandonai's I Cavalieri di Ekebù with Benvenuto Franci and Fernando Autori. She also sang in Piacenza, Palermo, Bologna and Parma. She returned to Chicago in the early 1940s were she taught singing. She died there in 1988.
Click on the buttons below to hear her singing "Suicidio!" from La Gioconda and "La mamma morta" from Andrea Chénier.
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Edgardo Gherlinzoni
After reading the biography of this tenor on La Voce Antica website (see "links") with the words "too many years away from the limelight and forgotten by everyone" I decided to feature him on my home page so that we can hear him again! I hope Sr Marcocci will allow me to use the photo just for a while. Forgotten? Non, mai!
Click on the image to hear him sing "Bella figlia dell'amore".
Born 2nd July 1876 in Stellata di Bondeno, died 15th November 1961 in Ferrara.
Click on the image to hear him sing "Bella figlia dell'amore".
Born 2nd July 1876 in Stellata di Bondeno, died 15th November 1961 in Ferrara.
For a short time only I have put a number of new recordings together on one page while I sort them out. I have left the complete tracks because many visitors have said that they would like more than just a clip.
Take me there!
Take me there!
78 Heaven "trailer" on You Tube!
I thought it was about time I had a go at putting a video on You Tube so here is my first attempt with a few photos of well-known singers. You may notice that there is no picture of Lucien Fugere as mentioned in the credits - apologies! He didn't appear in the final video, for some reason! I hope to put some more up in the coming months.
Record of the Month
Every month I will upload the full version of a 78 from my collection.
The May record is the soprano Mireille Berthon. She is singing Elisabeth's prayer from Tannhaüser.
Click on the gramophone to go to the Record of the Month page!
Florence Foster Jenkins
The famous Queen of the Night aria from an original Melotone 78!
Brace yourself and click on the picture to listen to it!
Click on the phone below to download a free ringtone!
Free Ringtones!
Click on the phone to go to my free ringtones page.
If you would like me to create a tone from any of the singers on this site, let me know!
If you would like me to create a tone from any of the singers on this site, let me know!
