Opera Scotland

International Celebrity Concert 1934International Celebrity Concert

Read more about the opera Recital

Amelita Galli-Curci soprano

This was Galli-Curci's third and final concert tour in the UK, following those in 1924 and 1930.

Further Scottish dates to be confirmed.

 

A Dundee Preview

Dundee Courier & Advertiser: Thursday, February 22 1934

Galli-Curci's Return

'It is just ten years since Madame Galli-Curci, who comes to Dundee next Wednesday in the International Celebrity Concert series, first came to this country. By then her fame as a soprano was well established, and she was hailed as the queen of coloratura singers.  Early in life Madame Galli-Curci was trained as a pianist, and was a pupil of Mascagni, at Milan.  She was about 16 when her golden voice was discovered, and from that time singing was for her the only possible career.

'Her first operatic successes in Italy created a furore, and later her singing at Chicago gave her a chance of a singing contract in America. After her present Scottish tour Madame Galli-Curci will return to America. This will probably be her last visit to Britain for some years, as, in addition to her appearances across the Atlantic, she is arranging a series of engagements on the Continent.'

 

And a Review

Dundee Courier & Advertiser: Thursday, 1 March 1934

Galli-Curci Brilliant as Ever - Warm Reception in Dundee

'If it is more amazing than moving, Galli-Curci's art never fails to rouse enthusiasm, alike by the sheer beauty of the unique instrument with which nature has endowed her and the remarkable manner in which she plays upon it.

'Her concert in the Caird Hall, Dundee, in the International Celebrity series last night was no exception to the rule.  Encore after encore was demanded from her and willingly conceded, until before she took her final farewell she had sung a score of songs.

'Nothing in vocal technique seems to give Galli-Curci the slightest trouble. The most brilliant cadenzas are dashed off as if they were mere child's play, with never a hint of the slightest wavering in the rhythmic line or loss of tonal beauty, however difficult the intervals.

'The possession of a staccato that would be the envy of any violinist, the smoothness of her legato passages and the gradations of power she exercises on single notes as well as phrases are a genuine delight, while her endings are ethereal-like in their beauty. The note does not end, it melts away into space, leaving the listener amazed and enchanted.

'As example of sheer virtuosic singing her rendering last night of Arditi's waltz-song ''Parla,'' Rossini's ''Tarantelle,'' and Meyerbeer's shadow song from Dinorah were outstanding. To the last named and to Bishop's ''Pretty Mocking Bird'' Mr Raymond Williams provided flute obbligatos. The synchronising of the voice and the instrument in the brilliant coloratura passages was a noteworthy performance on the part of both artistes.

'''Non so più'' was noteworthy for the sheer beauty of tone to which the vocalist wedded Mozart's music. Exquisite tenderness and charm marked a rendering of Rosa's ''Star Vicino'' and Hue's ''Chanson d'Amour et de Souci.''

'Of all her numbers, however, none proved more popular than Besly's quaint ''The Second Minuet.'' A delightfully naive touch was introduced by an effective, crisp staccato on each of the syllables of the word minuet.

'Madame Galli-Curci also gave the audience a glimpse of her accomplishments as a pianist, for which she originally trained. For one of her numerous encores she sang a Tosti number to her own accompaniment.

'A trio of flute solos were delightfully played by Mr Raymond Williams, while Mr Homer Samuels, who acted as accompanist, also contributed an enjoyable group of Debussy.  Both artistes had to respond to encores.

'The audience, although fairly good, was not so large as the standard of programme deserved.''