We Sang Better
Emma Eames
Here is the 7-minute introduction to the art of Emma Eames, as promised in 'Pure singing on its own' in Volume 2. Eames loathed the early recording process, saying, "One was gently drawn back from the horn so that, instead of a ringing high note, one sounded as if one had suddenly retired into the next room ... " But her mastery of voice is evident, even in these old recordings. Her striving for "simplicity, sincerity and truth" (her words for her own ideals) enabled her to tackle a great variety of repertoire:
To show very quickly the ability of an 'old' singer in many kinds of music - Emma Eames, soprano, in recordings 1906-1911:
• ‘early music’ a la Gounod – excerpt from Il était un roi de Thulé;
• Mozart – excerpt from Bei Männern, Magic Flute (in Italian - listen to Eames rather than the baritone);
• Coloratura – two excerpts from Je veux vivre , Gounod
• Verismo – excerpt from Voi lo sapete, Cavelleria Rusticana
• Song & ability to blend with a solo instrument – Elegie by Massenet with Hollman, solo cello
• Lieder – excerpt from Gretchen am Spinnrade, Schubert
• Wagner – excerpt from Du Ärmste kannst wohl, Lohengrin (duet with Louise Homer, contralto)
• Mozart – excerpt from Bei Männern, Magic Flute (in Italian - listen to Eames rather than the baritone);
• Coloratura – two excerpts from Je veux vivre , Gounod
• Verismo – excerpt from Voi lo sapete, Cavelleria Rusticana
• Song & ability to blend with a solo instrument – Elegie by Massenet with Hollman, solo cello
• Lieder – excerpt from Gretchen am Spinnrade, Schubert
• Wagner – excerpt from Du Ärmste kannst wohl, Lohengrin (duet with Louise Homer, contralto)
More samples to come.