Helmut Weber has contributed this initial compilation of complete or nearly complete recordings of operas and of complete or nearly complete single acts. The period covered is from the earliest acoustic sets, approximately 1907, until the introduction and almost immediate dominance of electrical recordings in 1925. The recordings of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas are listed separately on their page.
The recordings are ordered alphabetically by composer and title, then by recording date. Note that 'completeness' is difficult to define and the recordings so identified below are often abridged by modern standards. Of course, even in contemporary performance and recording, truly complete realizations are rare. In some cases, they may not even be possible due to differences in editions. Nevertheless, in earlier days, substantial cuts and even multiple casts did not preclude the set being identified as complete when issued and here.
The following data are given for each recording:
All record collectors interested in this topic are invited to send comments and suggestions to: weber@informatik.fh-wiesbaden.de
Complete -1908 - Berlin Court Opera and Orchestra - Bruno Seidler-Winkler
Emmy Destinn (Carmen), Karl Joern (Don Jose), Minnie Nast (Micaela), Hermann Bachmann (Escamillo), Felix Dahn, Marie Dietrich, Grete Parbs, Julius Lieban, Rudolf Krasa
Grammophon 40829/31, 42180/82, 043109, 43199/201, 44464/74, 44093/104, 044405/06, 44960
Sung in German
Available on this disc.
Complete - 1911 - Opera Comique, Paris - Francois Ruhlmann
Marguerite Merentie (Carmen), Agustarello Affre (Don Jose), Alline Vallandri (Micaela), Henri Albers (Escamillo), Pierre Dupre, Marie Ganteri, Paul Dumontier
Pathe Opera Series, 27 records (78rpm)
Sung in French, with spoken dialogue
Available on CDs from Marston Records
Complete - 1912 - Opera Comique, Paris - Francois Ruhlmann
Robert Marvini (Balthazar), Robert Lasalle (Fernand), Henri Albers (Alphonse XI), Marie Ganteri (Ines), George de Poumayrac (Don Gaspard), Ketty Lapeyrette (Leonor de Gusman)
Pathe Opera Series, 21 records (78rpm)
Sung in French
Available on CDs from Marston Records
Complete - 1918 - Chorus and Orchestra - Edward German
Bessie Jones, Edna Thornton, Georg Baker, Charles Mott, Edward Halland, Ernest Pike, John Harrison
HMV D 18-28 (78rpm records)
Sung in English
Available as CDs from J. C. Lockwood 78s
Complete - June/July 1920 - La Scala Chorus, Gramophone Symphony Orchestra - Carlo Sabajno
Luigi Lupato (Andrea Chenier), Valentina Bartolomasi (Maddalena), Adolfo Pacini (Carlo Gérard), Nelda Garrone (Bersi),
La Voce del Padrone S 5220/52 (even numbers only; 17 discs)
Sung in Italian
Availability unknown
Complete - 1908 - Berlin Court Opera and Grammophon Orchestra - Bruno Seidler-Winkler
Karl Joern (Faust), Emmy Destinn (Marguerite), Paul Knuepfer (Mephistopheles), Ida von Scheele-Mueller (Marthe), Marie Goetze (Siebel), Desider Zador (Valentin), Artur Neuendahn (Wagner)
Grammophon 42075/79, 43059/96, 040521/23, 042163/64, 043101/02, 44366/80, 044081/85
Sung in German
Available as LPs from Discophilia and on this disc
Complete - before 1914 - Opera Comique, Paris - conductor unknown
Cast unknown
Pathe Opera Series
Sung in French
Availability unknown
Complete - 1918 - La Scala, Milano - Carlo Sabajno
Giuliano Romagnoli (Faust), Gemma Bosini (Marguerite), Fernando Autori (Mephistopheles), Nelda Garrone (Marthe), Gilda Timitz (Siebel), Adolfo Pacini (Valentin), Napoleone Limonta (Wagner)
HMV (78rpm)
Sung in Italian
Available on this disc.
Complete - 1912 - Opera Comique, Paris - Francois Ruhlmann
Yvonne Gall (Juliette), Agustarello Affre (Romeo), Marcel Journet (Frere Laurent)
Pathe Opera Series
Sung in French
Available from VAI
Complete - 1907 - Berlin Court Opera Chorus, Gramophone Orchestra - Bruno Seidler-Winkler
Marie Ottmann (Hanna Glawari), Gustav Matzner (Graf Danilo), Louise Obermaier (Valencienne), Fred Carlo (Camille), Edmund Körner, Max Obal, Poldi Deutsch, Alfred Walters
G & T, 15 10" discs, 2-40579, 41491/2, 41983/91, 3-42853, 43924/5, 43928/9, 2-44243/53, 2-44263 & 1 12" disc, 044072/3
Sung in German
Availability unknown
Complete - 1907 - La Scala, Milano - Carlo Sabajno (supervised by Leoncavallo)
Antonio Paoli (Canio), Josefina Huguet (Nedda), Francesco Cigada (Tonio), Gaetano Pini-Corsi (Beppe), Ernesto Badini (Silvio)
G&T, HMV, 11 records (78rpm)
Sung in Italian
Available as CD from Bongiovanni and on this disc.
Abridged - 1909 - Berlin Court Opera, Odeon Orchestra - F. Kark (?)
Ottokar Marak (Canio), Marie Dietrich (Nedda), Cornelis Bronsgeest (Tonio), Robert Philipp (Beppe), Carel van Hulst (Silvio)
Odeon Opernserie A (78rpm)
Sung in German
Availability unknown
Complete - 1918 - La Scala, Milano - Carlo Sabajno
Luigi Bolis (Canio), Annita Conti (Nedda), Giuseppe Montanelli (Tonio), A. Prat (Beppe), Ernesto Badini (Silvio)
HMV (78rpm)
Sung in Italian
Available on this disc
Abridged - 1909 - Berlin Court Opera, Odeon Orchestra - Friedrich Kark
Franz Naval (Turridu), Frances Rose (Santuzza), Frieda Hempel (Lola), Cornelis Bronsgeest (Alfio), Ida von Scheel-Mueller (Lucia)
Odeon Opernserie A
X 99243, 50604, 99234/35, 99240, 50607, 99237, 99236, 99242, 99241, 50601, 50608, 50602, 50609/10, 99244, 99238, 50605/06, 50603, 99239-2
Sung in German
Available as CD from Truesound Transfers TT-1815 and on this disc.
Complete - 1916 - La Scala, Milano - Carlo Sabajno
Franco Tumminello (Turridu), Giorgina Ermolli (Santuzza), Eugenio Perna (Alfio), Elvira Ravelli (Lola/Lucia)
HMV (78rpm)
Sung in Italian
Available on this disc.
Complete - 1912 - Opera Comique, Paris - Archainbaud
Morlet (Galathée), Gresse (Pygmalion), Jouvin (Midas), Vaguet (Ganymède)
Pathe Opera Series
Sung in French
Availability unknown
Complete - 1923 - Opera Comique, Paris - Henri Buesser
Fanny Heldy (Manon Lescaut), Jean Marny (Des Grieux), Leon Ponzio (Lescaut), Pierre Dupre (Le Comte des Grieux)
Pathe Opera Series, 24 records (78rpm)
Sung in French
Available as CDs from Marston Records
Complete - 1912 - Opera Comique, Paris - conductor unknown
Henri Albers (L'Auguste), Edmond Tirmont (Nino), Alfred Maguenat (Tiarko), Pierre Dupré Le Docteur), Marguerite Mérentié (Myria), Mme. Delrys (La Teigne)
Pathé Opera Series 1528/35 (work commissioned by Pathé Frères)
Sung in French
Availability unknown
Complete - 1918 - La Scala, Milano - Carlo Sabajno
Gemma Bosini (Mimi), Remo Andreini (Rodolfo), Adalgisa Giana (Musetta), Ernesto Badini (Marcello), Vicenzo Bottone (Colline), Baracchi (Schaunard)
HMV 78rpm records
Sung in Italian
Available on this disc.
Complete - 1922 - England - Eugene Goosens
Rosina Buckman (Cio-Cio San), Tudor Davies (Pinkerton), Nellie Walker/Gladys Peel (Suzuki), Frederick Ranalow (Sharpless), Sydney Coltham (Goro), Edward Halland (Il Bonzo/Yamadori), Bessie Jones (Kate Pinkerton)
HMV 78rpm records (Black Label)
Sung in English
Available as LPs on Claremont and on this disc.
Complete - June & November 1918 - La Scala Chorus, Gramophone Symphony Orchestra - Carlo Sabajno
Lya Remondini (Tosca), Carlo Broccardi (Cavaradossi), Dario Zani/Giulio=Fregosi (Scarpia), Davide Carnevali (sacristan), Vincenzo Bettoni/F. Rizzo=(Angelotti), Vincenzo Bettoni (jailer)
La Voce del Padrone, 12 12" discs, S 5584/5606 (even numbers only), & 4, 10" discs, R 5583, 5591, 5595, 5603,
Sung in Italian
Availability unknown
Complete - October/November 1919 - La Scala Chorus, Gramophone Symphony Orchestra - Carlo Sabajno
Valentina Bartolomasi (Tosca), Attilio Salvaneschi (Cavaradossi), Adolfo-Pacini (Scarpia)
La Voce del Padrone, 12 12"discs, S 5702/24 (even numbers only), & 4 10", R 5701, 5709, 5713, 5721
Sung in Italian
Availability unknown
Complete - 1919 - Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milano - Carlo Sabajno
Ernesto Badini (Figaro), Malvina Pereira (Rosina), Edoardo Taliani (Almaviva), Davide Varnevali (Bartolo), Umberto di Lelio (Basilio), Agnese Monetti (Berta)
HMV 78rpm records
Sung in Italian
Available on this disc.
Complete - 1918-20 - Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro San Carlo, Napoli - Salvatore Sassano
Novelli/Franci (Figaro), Fernando de Lucia (Almaviva), Schottler (Bartolo), S. Valentino/Muñoz (Basilio), Resemba/Ottein (Rosina), Sabantano (Berta)
Phonotype 78rpm records
Sung in Italian
Available as CD on Preiser (?)
Complete - 1907 - Berlin - Bruno Seidler-Winkler
Robert Philipp, Emilie Herzog, Julius Lieban, Marie Dietrich, Ida von Scheele-Mueller, Hermann Valentin
G&T 044059/61, 44213/22, 44624, 40563, 41971/74, 043074, 42789
Sung in German
Available as CDs from Preiser
Complete - 1906 (?) - venue and conductor unknown
Teresa Chelotti, Elvira Magliulo (Aida), Orazio Cosentino (Radames), Vittoria Colombati (Amneris), Giovanni Novelli (Amonasro), ...
Green Zonophone (USA) 12664/78, 24017, 2419/25
Sung in Italian
Availability unknown
Extended excerpts - 1912 - venue and conductor unknown
Armanini, Tommasini, Remondini, Beinat, Baldassare, Toninello, Bettoni, Lopez-Nunez, Formichi, Cunego, Anitua, De Perez
Columbia 5558/74, 17x12" (78rpm)
Sung in Italian
Available on this disc.
Complete - 1919 - La Scala Chorus, Gramophone Symphony Orchestra - Carlo Sabajno
Valentina Bartolomasi (Aida/priestess), Enrico Trentini (Radames), Rosita Pagani (Amneris), Adolfo Pacini (Amonasro), Guido Fernandez (Ramfis)
La Voce del Padrone, 26 12" discs, S 5150/80 (even #s only), & 4 10" discs,=R 5153, 5157, 5159, 5169
Sung in Italian
Availability unknown
Complete - 1912 - Opera Comique, Paris - Francois Ruhlmann
Jean Note (Rigoletto), Aline Vallandri (Gilda), Robert Lassalle (Il Duca), Pierre Dupre (Sparafucile/Marcello/Monterone), Ketty Lapeyrette (Maddalena)
Pathe Opera Series,
Sung in French
Available on this disc.
Complete - 1916 - La Scala, Milano - Carlo Sabajno
Cesare Formichi (Rigoletto), Ines Ferraris (Gilda), Giuseppe Taccani (Il Duca), Vincenzo Bettoni (Sparafucile), G. Caiani (Maddalena)
Columbia 16346/62, (17 78rpm records)
Sung in Italian
Available as CDs from Preiser and on this disc.
Complete - 1916/17 - La Scala Chorus, Gramophone Orchestra - Carlo Sabajno
Giuseppe Danise/Ernesto Badini (Rigoletto), Ayres Borghi-Zerni/Olga Simzis (Gilda), Carlo Broccardi (Duke of Mantua), Vincenzo Bettoni/Guido Fernandez (Sparafucile), Vincenzo Bettoni (Count Monterone)
La Voce del Padrone, 9 12" discs, S 5544/8, 5552/4, 5558/64 (even numbers only), & 8 10" discs, R 5543, 5549/57, 5561/3 (odd numbers only) [side 9, Badini/Simzis, "Deh non parlare"; s 21, Badini/Pezzati, "La-ra, la-ra"; s 23, Simzis/Badini, "Mio padre!"; s 29, Broccardi/Pezzati/Badini/Simzis, "Bella figlia dell'amore"; s 33, Badini/Fernandez/Broccardi, "Della vendetta alfin"; s 34, Simzis/Badini, "Lassu in ciel"--all recorded in 1917 to replace rejected takes recorded in 1916 with the first cast]
Sung in Italian
Available on this disc; excerpts issued on on LP: Bongiovanni GB 1024 .
Complete -1918 - Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro San Carlo, Napoli - Salvatore Sassano
Antonio Armentano Anticorona (Rigoletto), Fernando de Lucia (Il Duca), Angela De Angelis (Gilda), Luis Munoz, Vida Ferluga
Phonotype 78rpm records
Sung in Italian
Available on this disc
Complete - 1912 - Paris - M. Archainbaud
Morlet (Violetta), Trosselli (Alfredo), Henri Albers (Germont), Marie Ganteri (Flora)
Pathe Opera Series
Sung in French
Available on this disc.
Complete - 1915 - Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milano - Carlo Sabajno
Margherita Bevignani (Violetta), Franco Tuminello (Alfredo), Ernesto Badini (Germont), Maria Patini (Flora), Giuseppe Sala (Gastone)
HMV 78rpm records
Sung in Italian
Available on this disc.
Complete - 1912 - Paris - Francois Ruhlman
Fontaine (Manrico), Morlet (Leonore), Lapeyrette (Azucena), Noté (di Luna), Marvini (Fernando), Gantéri (Ines), Nansen (Ruiz)
Pathe Opera Series
Sung in French
Available on this disc.
Complete - 1909 - Berlin - Eduard Kuennecke
Fritz Vogelstrom (Tannhaeuser), Anny Krull (Elisabeth), Hermann Weil (Wolfram), Leon Rains (Landgraf), Walter Kirchhoff (Walther v. d. Vogelweide), Carl Armster (Biterolf), Joseph Schoeffel (Reinmar von Zweter), Arthur Neuendahn (Heinrich der Schreiber)
Odeon 50699/710, 76125/26, 80046/48, 80051/53
Sung in German
Available as CD/Tape from Opera Classics
Abridged - 1913 - Blüthner-Orchester, Berlin - Edmund von Strauss
Erna Denera (Sieglinde), Jacques Decker (Siegmund), Gustav Schwegler (Hunding)
Anker E 9958/63 (6x78rpm)
Sung in German
Available as CD from SHIMMY Truesound Transfers TT-1809 and on this disc.
Kurt Blaukopf: Opern auf Schallplatten 1900-1962, Ein historischer Katalog, Universal Edition, Wien 1974
Roland Gelatt: The Fabulous Phonograph, Cassel, London 1977
Karl Löbl, Robert Werba: Opern auf Schallplatten, Ein Katalog der Gesamtaufnahmen, Hermes Handlexikon, Band I und Band II, ECON Verlag, Düsseldorf 1983
Hans Schoor: Oper, Operette, Konzert, Bertelsmann, Guetersloh 1955
Sound Archive of H. Weber
Material from Francois Nouvion. Mike Richter and many other individuals.