Episode 402. Ina Souez Revisited

Episode 402. Ina Souez Revisited

The extraordinary Ina Souez (1903 – 1992), was one of the few Native American singers to achieve worldwide fame on the operatic stage. Though her career was truncated by the collapse of her European career because of the impending World War, Souez’s place in the history of recorded sound is assured by virtue of her participation in the series of Mozart operas as produced by HMV in the mid-1930s as souvenirs of the first seasons of the Glyndebourne Festival. Indeed, one could argue that her Fiordiligi remains the standard by which all other interpreters are judged. Souez, the 33rd anniversary of whose death is observed in December, was one of the few Native American singers to achieve worldwide fame on the operatic stage. This episode focuses on an ultra-rare 1957 self-titled album of songs and arias that marked a comeback of sorts for Souez, who upon escaping Europe as a star found herself a virtual non-entity when she returned to her native country. I also play excerpts from the classic mid-1930’s recordings of Don Giovanni and Così fan tutte from Glyndebourne which have forever cemented the reputation of Souez in the hearts and minds of lovers of great singing. In addition, we hear 1935 recordings of Micaela’s aria as well as the “Casta diva” from Norma and a pair of light classical 78s in which Souez’s voice rings out with youthful vigor and enthusiasm. Other singers heard on these recordings include soprano Luise Helletsgruber; tenors Heddle Nash, Webster Booth, and Koloman von Pátaky; contralto Lore Fischer; and baritones John Brownlee and Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender. Conductors include John Barbirolli, Carl Schuricht, and, of course, the great Fritz Busch.

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

All tracks feature Ina Souez, soprano.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lorenzo da Ponte: Tutto, tutto, o vita mia… E nel tuo, nel mio bicchiero (Così fan tutte). Luise Helletsgruber, Heddle Nash, Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender, Fritz Busch, Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra [1935]

Harold Fraser-Simson, Harry Graham: Love Will Find a Way (The Maid of the Mountains). [1933]

Neapolitan Nights [A Medley of Italian Songs] (including O sole mio [Eduardo di Capua]; Funiculi, funicula [Luigi Denza]; Il bacio [Luigi Arditi]; La danza [Gioachino Rossini]). HMV Light Opera Company (featuring Webster Booth) [1936]

Georges Bizet, Henri Meilhac, Ludovic Halévy [after Prosper Mérimée]: Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante (Carmen). John Barbirolli, London Philharmonic Orchestra [1935]

Vincenzo Bellini, Felice Romani: Casta diva… Ah, bello a me ritorna (Norma). John Barbirolli, London Philharmonic Orchestra [1935]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lorenzo da Ponte: Ah, soccorrete, amici… Fuggi, crudele, fuggi! (Don Giovanni). Koloman von Pátaky, Fritz Busch, Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra [1936]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Crudele? Ah, no, mio bene… Non mi dir, bell’idol mio (Don Giovanni). Koloman von Pátaky, Fritz Busch, Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra [1936]

Giuseppe Verdi: Agnus Dei (Messa da Requiem). Lore Fischer, Carl Schuricht, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Toonkunstkoor Amsterdam [live Amsterdam 02.XI.39]

From Ina Souez – Aria and Song [1957]. Loyd Simpson, pianist

• Amy Cheney Beach, Robert Browning: The Year’s at the Spring
• Benedetto Marcello: Il mio bel foco… Quella fiamma che m’accende
• Tobia Nicotra [formerly attributed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]: Baci amorosi e cari, K.Anh. 283a
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lorenzo da Ponte: Un moto di gioia, K.579
• Antonio Guarnieri: Caro, caro il mio bambin
• Ludwig Van Beethoven, Giuseppe Carpani: In questa tomba oscura, WoO 133
• Thomas Haynes Bayly: Long, Long Ago
• Johannes Brahms, Heinrich Heine: Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht, Op. 96/1
• Ottorino Respighi, Vittoria Aganoor Pompilj [after Maurice Maeterlinck]: E se un giorno tornasse
• Francesco Cilea, Arturo Colauti [after Eugène Scribe, Ernest Legouvé]: Io son l’umile ancella (Adriana Lecouvreur)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lorenzo da Ponte: Ei parte! Senti! Ah, no!… Per pietà, ben mio perdona (Così fan tutte). Fritz Busch, Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra [1935]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lorenzo da Ponte: Soave sia il vento (Così fan tutte). Luise Helletsgruber, John Brownlee, Fritz Busch, Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra [1935]