ABSTRACT
Italian coloratura soprano, born Antonietta Meneghelli in Mogliano. She made her debut at La Scala in 1916, and sang elsewhere in Italy in roles for various soprano types. With a performance of Gilda in Torino, 1918, she became a secure coloratura, singing that repertoire for 10 years at La Scala under Arturo Toscanini. She sang at the Metropolitan Opera on 5 Dec 1924, as Lucia; in Chicago from 1924 to 1928, and at Covent Garden in 1926. Dal Monte recorded for HMV in 1924-1925, doing the Lucia mad scene, (#DB 712), “Una voce poco fa,” “Caro nome” (#DB830), and two other arias; all are outstanding interpretations. During 1927-1935 she made electrical discs for HMV, a number of which have been reissued by Harmonia Mundi on CD #89001. She continued to perform through World War II, making her farewell performance in 1949. Perhaps her finest record was “Un bel di,” recorded in 1935 and reissued in 1989 (EMI CD CHS7 69990-2). [Renton 1949.]
French dramatic tenor, born Henry Alphonse Boin, in Nancy. He was a notable horn player, winning the Paris Conservatory prize at age 19, and serving as an orchestral hornist for several years; then he was professor of horn in Lyons. He made his debut as a tenor in 1899 in Rouen, then was heard in Brussels, and for seven seasons at Covent Garden. He was at the Manhattan Opera from 1906 to 1910, and in Chicago from 1910 to 1918 (singing in that city’s first Parsifal). His repertoire was both French/Italian and Wagnerian.On Victor Red Seal during 1907-1908 and 1912-1913, Dalmorès produced many fine discs. A favorite among collectors is “Ah si ben mio” from Trovatore (Victor 85123). Some of these recordings have been reissued on various compilations of early opera stars.
