ABSTRACT
She was poorly recorded in her first effort, one side made in Berlin for G&T in 1901, and fared no better recording for Fonotipia in Berlin in 1905. She was heard to better advantage on four Columbias made in Berlin in 1904. The “Habanera” was the earliest of the Columbias (#40483). Destinn recorded for Odeon in 1905-1906, repeating some of her Fonotipia material and offering her first Wagner discs. G&T recorded some her most important material from 1906 to 1909, including the outstanding “Dich teure Halle” (#043133; reissued on IRCC 184 with “Wär es wahr?” (#043138) from Smetana’s Dalibor. She sang in the 36-disc complete Carmen and the 34-disc complete Faust of 1908. In 1911 Destinn made three records for Edison Diamond Discs. She was with Columbia again in 1912-1913, presenting brilliant interpretations of “Wie nahte mir” from Freischütz (#30974), and “Vissi d’arte” (#30998). The 1917 Victor catalog had 20 items by Destinn, including the remarkable “Miserere” with Giovanni Martinelli (#88530). Her total career output was 218 sides. IRCC reissued seven of her arias, and there were many LP reissues on various labels. On some recordings she is identified as Destinova. Destinn was the subject of the earliest published discography about a singer, in Gramophone. April, 1930. [Rektorys 1971.]
One of the most popular recording acts at the onset of the 21st century, the Houston-based group-originally consisting of lead singer Beyonce Knowles, second lead vocalist Kelly Rowland, alto LaTavia Roberson, and soprano LeToya Luckett-came together in 1993, adopting their name from the Book of Isaiah. Beyonce’s father, Music World Management’s Mathew Knowles, steered the quartet from early local impact opening for best-selling rhythm and blues artists to international recognition after signing with Columbia in 1997.
