[Concertantek364]

A great news has just arrived from Marston Records announcing its plan to remaster and reissue Argentinian soprano Hina Spani's complete recorded output.

Here's the announcement in full from Marston Records:

Hina Spani (1890*-1969) was born Higinia Tuñón in a province of Buenos Aires. She enjoyed a major operatic career centered in Italy during the 1920s and 1930s. Among the great sopranos of her era, Spani shines as brightly as any, yet her celebrity was less well known most likely due to her career being limited mainly to Italy, Spain, and South America, and her only tour to an English-speaking country was in Australia. She made her operatic debut at La Scala in 1915 as Anna in Catalani's Loreley. She sang at Puccini's funeral at the Duomo in Milan's cathedral on 29 November 1924 (and repeated this performance at La Scala a month later) under the baton of Arturo Toscanini, which was a turning point in her career. She created the title role in the world premiere of Respighi's Maria Egiziaca in 1934 at the Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires and performed in the world premiere of Alberto Franchetti's Glauco. Spani's voice is of first-rate quality and well-trained, with a beautifully warm tone and an even scale. She began as a lirico-spinto but graduated to dramatic parts and had a vibrant, instantly recognizable voice capable of thrilling the listener in opera or song. Although she was a true soprano, she had the fullness associated with mezzo-sopranos: she sang some roles often taken by mezzos, such as Marina in Boris Godunov and Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana, and regretted never having portrayed Eboli in Don Carlos. She excelled in art songs but commanded no fewer than sixty operatic roles. After retiring from the operatic stage, she taught at the Vocal Art Institute of the Teatro Colón, which she directed.

Hina Spani's entire recorded output can be found on fewer than twenty discs. Her musical conviction and sincerity linked with limited recordings have made Spani a favorite among record collectors. This complete two-CD set includes all of her recordings for Italian Columbia and HMV. The repertoire is almost evenly divided between operatic arias and Italian, Spanish, and Argentinian art songs. The booklet notes are by Michael Aspinall and Tully Potter.

*In true prima donna fashion, Spani took six years off her age and gave her birth year as 1896.

Please also check out Marston Records' "Future Releases" page:

https://www.marstonrecords.com/page...l&utm_campaign=617a0f93301a020012fa63cf#spani

 

[JanacekTheGreat]

Yes, I am very much looking forward to this, as well as the Parsifal with Melchior and Flagstad

 

[MAS]

I think Romophone had a couple of disks on Spani, also transferred by Marston.

 

[vivalagentenuova]

Yes, I am very much looking forward to this, as well as the Parsifal with Melchior and Flagstad

That's been a "future release" for quite some time. I can't wait until it comes out.

 

[Concertantek364]

I think Romophone had a couple of disks on Spani, also transferred by Marston.

No, Romophone never released any issue featuring Spani.

The forthcoming Marston Records issue would be the first time all her HMV and Italian Columbia (which are rarer and tend to fetch high prices in second-hand market) are gathered in one release. Her Italian Columbia recordings include some mouth-watering items that she never again recorded for HMV - "Un bel di" from Madama Butterfly and "O patria mia" from Aida. Marston apparently had received very kind help from collectors to gather the more-difficult-to-find Italian Columbia recordings.

Previous issues of Spani on CD:



1. Preiser Lebendige Vergangenheit - her HMV recordings - opera arias + a small selection of songs



2. Club 99 - her complete HMV recordings - opera arias and songs + a very small selection of the rarer Italian Columbia acoustic recordings. The issue is poorly transferred.



3. Pearl - her HMV recordings - opera arias + a small selection of songs. Good transfer undertaken by Keith Hardwick.



Prior to the CD issues, there was also a EMI LP issue titled "The Art of Hina Spani", which included all her HMV recordings of opera arias and songs. Transfer by Keith Hardwick. Haven't heard this LP, but the transfer was said to be quite good.

 

[Concertantek364]

Yes, I am very much looking forward to this, as well as the Parsifal with Melchior and Flagstad

The 1938 Met Parsifal requires a great deal of patience due to a difficult on-going negotiation process Marston is having with the Met over copyright issues. The Spani issue would come out sooner and it's likely to be released in plastic jewel cases instead of cardboard sleeves and boxes (thus avoiding the troublesome supply chain issues with the latter).

 

[MAS]

No, Romophone never released any issue featuring Spani.

The forthcoming Marston Records issue would be the first time all her HMV and Italian Columbia (which are rarer and tend to fetch high prices in second-hand market) are gathered in one release. Her Italian Columbia recordings include some mouth-watering items that she never again recorded for HMV - "Un bel di" from Madama Butterfly and "O patria mia" from Aida. Marston apparently had received very kind help from collectors to gather the more-difficult-to-find Italian Columbia recordings.

Previous issues of Spani on CD:



1. Preiser Lebendige Vergangenheit - her HMV recordings - opera arias + a small selection of songs



2. Club 99 - her complete HMV recordings - opera arias and songs + a very small selection of the rarer Italian Columbia acoustic recordings. The issue is poorly transferred.



3. Pearl - her HMV recordings - opera arias + a small selection of songs. Good transfer undertaken by Keith Hardwick.



Prior to the CD issues, there was also a EMI LP issue titled "The Art of Hina Spani", which included all her HMV recordings of opera arias and songs. Transfer by Keith Hardwick. Haven't heard this LP, but the transfer was said to be quite good.

Thanks for all that! I stand corrected; I probably saw one of the issues that you post.

 

[wkasimer]

Never mind.....

 

[Concertantek364]

Marston is set to release the Hina Spani set in June. Pre-order is now open, please check the Marston website.

Please note that due to rising fuel prices, shipping cost could be high. Furthermore, shipping time may take much longer than before because of an increasingly inefficient and mishap-ridden USPS.

 

[Concertantek364]

Marston Records has just released the full track listing and discographical details of forthcoming the Hina Spani set:

CD 1 (80:39)
COLUMBIA GRAMOPHONE COMPANY
1.	UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Morrò, ma prima in grazia (Verdi)	3:33
	1924, Milan; B342 (D 5165)
2.	AIDA: O patria mia (Verdi)	3:22
	1924, Milan; B338 (D 5165)
3.	CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA: Tu qui, Santuzza … No, no, Turiddu (Mascagni)	6:49
	Paolo Masini, tenor 1924, Milan; B333 and B334 (D 9455)
4.	MANON LESCAUT: In quelle trine morbide (Puccini)	2:50
	1924, Milan; B340 (D 9461)
5.	TOSCA: Vissi d’arte (Puccini)	3:16
	1924, Milan; B332 (D 9462)
6.	MADAMA BUTTERFLY: Un bel dì (Puccini)	3:18
	1924, Milan; B336 (D 9462)
7.	ANDREA CHÉNIER: La mamma morta (Giordano)	3:18
	1924, Milan; B331 (transferred from a unique unpublished test pressing)
THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD., 1926–1931
8.	GUILLAUME TELL: Sombre forêts (Selva opaca) (Rossini)	3:39
	La Scala Orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 7 July 1931; 0F168-3 (HMB 138)
9.	LOHENGRIN: Einsam in trüben Tagen (Sola nei miei primi anni) (Wagner)	4:32
	with orchestra 10 April 1928; CF1628-1 (DB 1164)
10.	LOHENGRIN: Euch Lüften, die mein Klagen (Aurette a cui si spesso)(Wagner)	4:16
	Conservatorio, Milan; La Scala Orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 15 March 1927; CK2016-2 (DB 1164)
11.	FAUST: Il m’aime (Ei m’ama) (Gounod)	3:41
	La Scala Opera orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 3 April 1928; CF1625-2 (DB 1163)
12.	UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Ma dall’arido stelo (Verdi)	3:48
	La Scala Opera orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 11 March 1927; CK2008-3 (DB 1045)
13.	IL TROVATORE: Come d’aurato sogno ... Tacea la notte (Verdi)	4:34
	Conservatorio, Milan; La Scala Orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 15 March 1927; CK2015-3 (DB 1045)
14.	IL TROVATORE: D’amor sull’ali rosee (Verdi)	4:47
	La Scala Opera orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 10 April 1928; CF1629-2 (DB 1503)
15.	OTELLO: Quando narravi l’esule tua vita (Verdi)	7:35
	Giovanni Zenatello, tenor La Scala Opera orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 3 December and 9 November 1926; CK1918-4 and CK1919-2 (DB 1006)
16.	OTELLO: Piangea cantando nell’erma landa (Verdi)	4:40
	La Scala Opera orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 3 April 1928; CF1626-2 (HMB 138)
17.	MANON: Allons! il le faut!...Adieu, notre petite table (Ah sì, lo degg’io...Addio, nostro piccolo desco) (Massenet)	3:42
	Conservatorio, Milan; orchestra conducted by Carlo Sabajno 3 May 1929; CM854-1 (DB 1503)
18.	PAGLIACCI: Decidi il mio destin … No, tu non m’ami (Leoncavallo)	8:58
	Apollo Granforte, baritone Conservatorio, Milan; La Scala Opera orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 12 March 1927; CK2010-1 and CK2011-2 (DB 1046)
Languages: all tracks sung in Italian
CD 2 (80:44)
THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY, LTD., 1926–1931 (continued)
1.	MANON LESCAUT: In quelle trine morbide (Puccini)	2:16
	La Scala Opera orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 10 March 1927; BK2005-1 (DA 879)
2.	LA BOHÈME: Donde lieta uscì (Puccini)	3:00
	Conservatorio, Milan; La Scala Opera Orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 12 March 1927; BK2009-2 (DA 879)
3.	TOSCA: Vissi d’arte (Puccini)	3:04
	Conservatorio, Milan; La Scala Opera orchestra conducted by Carlo Sabajno 3 May 1929; BM851-1 (DA 1060)
4.	MADAMA BUTTERFLY: Tu, tu, piccolo iddio (Puccini)	2:15
	Conservatorio, Milan, La Scala Opera orchestra conducted by Carlo Sabajno 6 May 1929; BM856-2 (DA 1060)
5.	LA WALLY: Ebben ne andro` lontano (Catalani)	4:17
	La Scala Opera orchestra conducted by Carlo Sabajno 3 April 1928; CF1627-1 (DB 1163)
6.	Amarilli (Caccini)	3:10
	Conservatorio, Milan; string octet, conducted by Gino Nastrucci 1 July 1929; BM995-3 (AV 15)
7.	Fanciullina (Ciampi)	2:29
	Conservatorio, Milan; string octet, conducted by Gino Nastrucci 1 July 1929; BM996-2 (AV 32)
8.	Se Florindo è fedele (Scarlatti)	3:10
	Conservatorio, Milan; string octet, conducted by Gino Nastrucci 1 July 1929; BM997-2 (AV 15)
9.	Quel ruscelletto (Paradies)	3:02
	Conservatorio, Milan; double quintet conducted by Gino Nastrucci 14 April 1930; BM1574-2 (AV 23)
10.	Se tu m’ami (authorship unknown; previously attributed to Pergolesi)	3:24
	Conservatorio, Milan; double quintet conducted by Gino Nastrucci 14 April 1930; BM1575-2 (AV 23)
11.	O primavera (Tirindelli)	2:50
	La Scala Opera orchestra, conducted by Carlo Sabajno 14 March 1931; 0F173-2 (DA 1246)
12.	Sandmännchen (Il mago sabbiolino), No. 4 from VOLKS-KINDERLIEDER, WoO 31 (Brahms)	3:19
	Conservatorio, Milan; double quintet conducted by Gino Nastrucci 15 April 1930; BM1577-1 (AV 24)
13.	Alte Liebe (Antico amore), Op. 72, No. 1 (Brahms)	3:10
	Conservatorio, Milan; double quintet conducted by Gino Nastrucci 22 April 1930; BM1576-4 (AV 24)
14.	Struna naladeˇna, No. 5 from GYPSY SONGS, Op. 55 (Dvorˇák)	1:01
	Conservatorio, Milan; chamber orchestra conducted by Gino Nastrucci 19 April 1929; BM827-3 (DA 1246)
15.	Dejte klec jestrˇábu, No. 7 from GYPSY SONGS, Op. 55 (Dvorˇák)	2:07
	Conservatorio, Milan; chamber orchestra conducted by Gino Nastrucci 19 April 1929; BM827-3 (DA 1246)
16.	El majo discreto, No. 6 from TONADILLAS (Granados)	1:50
	Conservatorio, Milan; double quintet conducted by Gino Nastrucci 2 May 1930; BM1600-2 (AV 25)
17.	Montañesa, No. 4 from VEINTE CANTOS POPULARES ESPAÑOLES (Nin)	2:55
	Conservatorio, Milan; double quintet conducted by Gino Nastrucci 2 May 1930; BM1599-2 (AV 25)
18.	Dia de fiesta, No. 2 from BALADAS ARGENTINAS (Floro Melitón Ugarte)	1:53
	Conservatorio, Milan; double quintet conducted by Gino Nastrucci 17 April 1930; BM1584-2 (DA 1226, AV 33)
19.	Canción del carretero (López Buchardo)	3:24
	Conservatorio, Milan; double quintet conducted by Gino Nastrucci 17 April 1930; BM1585-2 (AV 32)
20.	Coplas de curro dolce (Obradors)	2:18
	Conservatorio, Milan; double quintet conducted by Gino Nastrucci 22 April 1930; BM1598-2 (DA 1226, AV 33)
Appendix
A selection of Verdi arias sung by Giannina Arangi Lombardi, 1891–1951
ITALIAN COLUMBIA, 1926-1933
21.	IL TROVATORE: D’amor sull’ali rosee (Verdi)	3:41
	30 April 1927; WBX 131-1 (D 18028)
22.	LA FORZA DEL DESTINO: La vergine degli angeli (Verdi)	3:35
	chorus 6 March 1926; WBX 20-2 (D 14658)
23.	UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: Morrò, ma prima in grazia (Verdi)	3:58
	7 December 1933; CBX 1323 (GQX 10704)
24.	I LOMBARDI ALLA PRIMA CROCIATA: Te, vergin santa, invoco (Verdi)	3:46
	9 December 1933; CBX 1327 (GQX 10702)
25.	I LOMBARDI ALLA PRIMA CROCIATA: Salve, Maria! O madre, dal cielo … Se vano è il pregare (Verdi)	4:03
	9 December 1933; CBX 1328 (GQX 10702)
26.	AIDA: Qui Rhadames verrà! … O cieli azzurri (Verdi)	6:45
	15 November / 14 November 1928; WBX 403-3/WBX 400-2 (D 14507/D 14508)
Languages: tracks 1-13 and 21-26 sung in Italian; tracks 14 and 15 sung in Czech; tracks 16-20 sung in Spanish

 

[Concertantek364]

The Hina Spani set is now available. Those who have placed order can expect shipment from next week onwards.

 

[Concertantek364]

Just got my copy of the Spani set. Marston has worked his usual magic on her recordings, revealing colors and vibrancy in her voice that I haven't heard in previous issues I had bought (Preiser and Pearl). The rare Columbia recordings add to the great pleasure one derives from this issue and the whole production, including insert booklet, is simply superb. Needless to say, highly recommended for all aficionado of historical operatic sopranos.