Guide to the Martial Singher Recordings, 1943-1980

Project archivist: David Seubert; principal processors: Barbara Hirsch; student assistants: Matt Kawamura; machine-readable finding aid created by David Seubert

Department of Special Collections

Davidson Library

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA 93106

Phone: (805) 893-3062

Fax: (805) 893-5749

Email: special@library.ucsb.edu

URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/speccoll/speccoll.html

Guide to the Martial Singher Recordings, 1943-1980

Collection number: PA Mss 25

Department of Special Collections

Davidson Library

University of California, Santa Barbara

Contact Information:

Department of Special Collections
Davidson Library
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Phone: (805) 893-3062
Fax: (805) 893-5749
Email: special@library.ucsb.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/speccoll/speccoll.html

Project Archivist:: David Seubert
Principal Processor:: Barbara Hirsch
Student Assistants:: Matt Kawamura
Date Completed:: 4/1/1999
Encoded by:: David Seubert

Descriptive Summary

Title: Martial Singher Recordings,

Date (inclusive): 1943-1980

Collection number: PA Mss 25

Creator: Singher, Martial

Extent: 32 Disc Recordings, 8 Open Reel Tapes

Repository: University of California, Santa Barbara. Library. Dept. of Special Collections

Santa Barbara, CA 93106

Shelf location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.

Abstract: Original acetate disc recordings, shellac test pressings and audio tapes of French baritone Martial Singher. Includes solo works and performances with Lily Djanel, Eileen Farrell, Hertha Glaz, Rauol Jobin, Jarmila Novotna and Beverly Sills; performances under Bernard Herrmann and Eugene Ormandy as well as master tapes for his recordings for 1750 Arch Records.

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Provenance

Donated 1995 by Mrs. Martial Singher.

Restrictions

None.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Martial Singher Recordings, PA Mss 25, Department of Special Collections, University Libraries, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Biography

Baritone Martial Singher was born in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, France on August 14, 1904. He studied singing at the Paris Conservatory with Andre Gresse and made his debut in 1934. He sang with the Paris Opera, and the Opera Comique until leaving occupied France for New York in 1940. Upon arriving in New York he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera, but didn't start singing until 1943 due to immigration difficulties. He has a successful Met career and went on to teach at the Curtis Institute, Mannes College and at the Music Academy of the West.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of 32 discs, including 26 original acetate recordings, six 78rpm shellac test pressings and 8 tape recordings. The discs were recorded over the period 1943-1954, and include solo as well as duet and ensemble performances with Lily Djanel, Eileen Farrell, Hertha Glaz, Rauol Jobin, Jarmila Novotna and Beverly Sills. The collection includes performances of works by Canteloube, Chabrier, Charpentier, Debussy, Duparc, Flotow, Lehman, Massanet, Mussorksky, Puccini, Ravel and Schumann. The Ravel is a section of Don Quichotte a Dulcinee, which was written for Singher. Other notable items include two recordings under the direction of Eugene Ormandy and two recordings with the CBS Symphony under the direction of Bernard Herrmann. The tapes were recorded from 1975-1980 and include the master tapes from his two recordings with Berkeley's 1750 Arch Records as well as tapes of Singer reading French Poetry.

Related Material

Singher's collection of commercial disc recordings are cataloged in Pegasus, the UCSB online library catalog.

A0074-77/D12 Oct. 1943

Mussorgsky, Modest. "Songs and Dances of Death." Four songs: Berceuse (mx C13316) Serenade (mx C13317), Trepak (mx C13315), Commander-in-Chief (mx C13318). 12" Odeon test pressings (2 copies of each).

A0071-73/D12 June 13, 1945

Duparc, Henri. CBS Symphony Orchestra. "Invitation to Music". Conducted by Bernard Herrmann. Carnegie Hall Recording Co. Acetates.

A0058-61/D12 Oct. 3, 1945

Charpentier, Marc Antoine. Louise. Act IV, with Eileen Farrell. CBS Symphony Orchestra, "Invitation to Music." Conducted by Bernard Herrmann. Carnegie Hall Recording Co. Acetates.

A0078A/D12 April 29, 1946

Puccini, Giacomo. La Boheme. Duet with Raoul Jobin. Metropolitan Opera Ensemble WEAF. Melotone Acetates.

A0078B/D12 April 29, 1946

Flotow, Friedrich von. Martha, Quartet, with Jarmila Novotna, Hertha Glaz and Raoul Jobin. Metropolitan Opera Ensemble WEAF. Melotone Acetates.

A0079-80/D12 April 29, 1946

Puccini, Giacomo. La Boheme. Act III trio with Raoul Jobin and Jarmila Novotna. WEAF Melotone Acetates.

A0081/D12 Oct. 5, 1946

Debussy, Claude. Pelleas et Mellisande. Duet (with Lily Djanel). Montreal Concert Gala, conducted by [Wilfred?] Pelletier. CBC Radio Canada Melotone Acetates.

A0082-3/D12 Oct. 5, 1946

Ravel, Maurice. Don Quichotte a Dulcinee. CBC Radio Canada Melotone Acetates.

A0083/D12 December 30, 1946

Lehman, Liza. "In a Persian Garden." WJZ Broadcast Recordings. [Philadelphia Orchestra?] conducted by Eugene Ormandy. Melotone Acetate.

A0064-68A/D12 January 19, 1947

Schumann, Robert. Dichterliebe. WQXR New Friends of Music Program. Paul Ulanowsky, piano. Carnegie Hall Recording Co. Acetates.

A0068B/D12 January 19, 1947

Mussorgsky, Modest. "Trepak." WQXR New Friends of Music Program. Carnegie Hall Recording Co. Acetate.

A0069-70/D12 March 15, 1947

Debussy, Claude. "Three Ballades of Francois Villon." WCBS Philadelphia Orchestra broadcast, conducted by Eugene Ormandy Carnegie Hall Recording Co. Acetates.

A0147-149/D12 August 21, 1948

Mussorgsky, Modest, "Four Songs and Dances of Death." Trepak.

Mussorgsky, Modest, Boris Godunov. J'aile pouvour supréme.

Mussorgsky, Modest, Boris Godunov. Act II, Recitative and Aria.

18th Century French Song, Tambourin.

Bizet, Georges. Les Pechures de Perles. O Nadir.

Berlioz, Hector. Damnation de Faust, Serenade of Mephistopheles.

ABC Symphony conducted by Thomas K Sherman. WJZ Rockhill Acetates.

A0062-63/D12 November, 22, 1954

Massenet, Jules. Thais. Duet, with Beverly Sills. WABD TV "Opera Cameos". Rockhill Acetates.

A0320-21/R10 January 23, 1975

"Opus 70: Martial Singher." With Alden Gilchrist, harpsichord and piano. 1750 Arch Records S 1754 (Master tape, ¼" stereo, 15 IPS Dolby [A]) Contents: Tiersot. Chants de la vieille France: En venant de Lyon; L'Amour de moi.--Lully. Alceste. Air de Caron.--Tiersot. Chants de la vieille France: Musette; Tambourin.--Fauré. Poèm d'un jour.--Fauré. Nocturne.--Fauré.--L'Horizon chimérique.--Poulenc. Sérénade.--Poulenc. L'Anguille.--Poulenc. C.--Poulenc. La belle jeunesse.--Poulenc. Priez pour paix.

A0322-23/R10 [August, 1977]

"An Album of French songs." With Dorothy Angwin, piano. 1750 Arch Records 1766 (Master tape, ¼" stereo, 15IPS, Dolby A) Contents: Duparc, H. Phidyle. Le manoir de Rosemonde. Chanson triste. La vie anterieure.--Ravel, M. Chants populaires. Nicolette.--De Lara, I. Rondel de l'adieu.--Chausson, E. Le colibri. Les papillons. Le temps des lilas.--Britten, B. French folk song arrangements.

A0324-27/R10 December, 18, 1980

"French Poems" Master tape.

A0084/D12 n.d.

Christmas Carols. Melotone Acetate.

A0085-86/D12 n.d.

Chabrier, Emmanuel. Vilanelle des Petits Canards (mx C13314). Pastorale des Cochous, (mx C13295) Ballade des Gros Dimdous (mx C13296), Canteloube, Joseph. Sous, sous, Bercuse. (mx C13297) 10" Odeon Test Pressings.