future releases

Works in Progress

In an effort to meet the needs of the Marston customer, we have chosen our upcoming releases with you in mind. We press only 1000 copies of most releases and do not repress so “when they’re gone, they’re gone.” To date, more than a 1/3 of our catalogue is out of print!

Don’t be left out in the cold! If you Pre-order any release, you will be guaranteed a copy. If there is a title that is of interest, please order your copy now. Your credit card will be charged shortly before your CDs are shipped.

 

	The Great Vocal Interpreters of Richard Strauss (1901-1930) 52064-2 (2 CDs) Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949) lived during the birth of the “recording era” and he made numerous records in his role as conductor and eight recordings as pianist. However, this compilation concentrates on those singers who interpreted Strauss’s compositions in song. Most of the singers included here not only knew Strauss, but worked with him, and their recordings could be heard and judged by him. These recordings are very important documents because they are arguably the definitive “Strauss.” We can hear Lotte Lehmann, Fredrich Schorr, Hermann Jadlowker, Elisabeth Schumann, Meta Seinemeyer, Lauritz Melchior, Marcella Sembrich, Elisabeth Rethberg, Jacques Urlus, and others bring his songs to life. This two CD-set contains recordings primarily from the acoustic era including the earliest known recording of a Strauss song (1901 Berliner sung by Lotte Schloss), with a few important electrical recordings.
	Fully sponsored by the Estate of John Stratton (Stephen Clarke, Executor)

 

	Meyerbeer on Record vol. 2 53011-2 (3 CDs) Giacomo Meyerbeer was one of the most important composers in Paris during the mid-1880s. He is considered the founder of the French Grand Opera and his works dominated the French stage. Meyerbeer changed the face of opera in Paris, yet much criticism is directed toward him and much of his music is seldom heard today. This 2-CD set is the second of two volumes, which together with Marston’s Meyerbeer on Record vol. 1, honor Meyerbeer and reacquaint the listener with his marvelous music and some very interesting singing. This volume contains at least one version of every recorded Meyerbeer excerpt sung by French-language singers. They include cylinders and discs from the earliest days of recorded sound and continue through the 1930s. The compilation is not only an interesting way of organizing important and lovely French singing, but also gives a rare and extensive look into this style of singing. Volume two features recordings from Meyerbeer’s: L’étoile du nord, Le pardon de Ploërmel (Dinorah), and L’Africaine.
	Partially sponsored by the Pauls Foundation

 

	The Complete Mattia Battistini 56002-2 (6 CDs) Mattia Battistini is unique among baritones. Battistini was born in 1856 and sang in the tradition of Tamburini, Ronconi, and Cotogni. Due to an exceedingly long career the zenith of which coincided with the invention of the gramophone, we can enjoy a rare glimpse into a bygone era of baritone-singing, especially since Battistini was still singing beautifully well into his sixties. Battistini’s recording career spanned two decades and yielded some 120 sides. The complete Battistini requires six CDs. Although this series was begun by the Romophone label (2 CDs), sound improvements of these two CDs are anticipated and a substantial discount will be provided to this six CD compilation to accommodate those who purchased the Romophone set.
	Partially sponsored by Michael Begley

 

Fernando De Lucia The Complete Gramophone Company Recordings 1902-1909 53013-2 (3 CDs) Fernando De Lucia (1860 - 1925) is one of the most well-known tenors on early records. His recording career spanned 18 years and yielded some 300 sides. Although De Lucia portrayed a number of important verismo roles, his vocal technique was solidly grounded in the pre-verismo style.  Therefore today, De Lucia is viewed as one of the most important links to the graceful and ornamental style of singing prior to verismo.  His early recordings, which appear in this compilation, many of which  are rare and highly sought-after, present a broad range of roles both bel canto and verismo.  Although other historic labels have documented De Lucia's recordings, this release  will provide new insight into De Lucia's recorded legacy by transcribing his records at play back speeds that Ward Marston is convinced are correct, yet remain controversial. The set will conclude with an ample selection of De Lucia's later recordings for the Phonotype label, which reflect his important operatic roles that were not represented on his Gramophone Company discs.

 

	Early Italian Tenors Fiorello Giraud, Giovanni de Negri, Francesco Signorini, Leopoldo Signoretti, and others to be announced 52067-2 (2 CDs) Fiorello Giraud (1868 - 1928) had a highly successful career throughout Italy and parts of South America and was well-respected both in Wagnerian and verismo roles. He will be remembered for creating the role of Canio (Pagliacci). His strong, vibrant voice was first captured on eight very rare G&T records. In 1916 and 1917, he recorded an additional 12 sides for Italian HMV, all song titles.  This compilation will include all 20 of his published sides. Giovanni Batista de Negri (1850 - 1923) was particularly associated with the role of Otello, toured throughout Italy, and had a career that was cut short (1896) due to a series of operations for an unmentioned "malady."  In 1902, however, he recorded for the Zonophone company, forever leaving his mark.  Francesco Signorini (1860 - 1927)  achieved success singing Turiddu (Cavalleria rusticana) in Florence in 1890; appeared at La Scala in 1897; and appeared in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and South America in 1907.  He gave up singing in 1910 to teach in Rome.  His HMV recordings are very rare, including the scenes from Chatterton, which were issued on an early Marston release. Leopoldo Signoretti's birth date ranges from 1840 to 1850, the former seeming more plausible.  His earliest traced performances were in Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Teatro Solis, Montevideo in May 1875. In 1884 he went to Bologna for Tannhäuser and the world premiere of Isora di Provenza by Luigi Mancinelli. At Madrid, in the 1884-1885 season he sang La Gioconda, Faust, Aida, L’fAfricana, Lucia di Lammermoor (with Sembrich and Battistini), Il principe di Viana (Manuel Fernandez Grajal), Il trovatore, Ernani, Un ballo in maschera, and Lohengrin.  He recorded only five documented Zonophone sides, and in many ways, these are the most impressive of this quartet of early Italian tenors.
	Partially sponsored by Richard and Mary-Jo Warren

 

Nineteenth Century French-Baritones Jean Lassalle, Léon Melchissédec, Maurice Renaud, and Jean Baptist Faure 52069-2 (2 CDs) Some CD compilations are known because of the rarity of the recordings, while others are known for the quality of singing; this compilation contains some of the rarest recordings known to collectors, and displays incredible singing as well.  Jean Lassalle was born in 1847 and died in 1909, not long after the dawn of recording.  His career was stellar:  he was one of the greatest luminaries of the Paris Opéra; he was a frequent guest in London; and was an honored member of the Metropolitan Opera.  His expressive voice displayed mastery of technique, and although his recordings were made when he was in his late 50s, there is still much in the way of style and technique that can be heard. His first recordings were Pathé cylinders dating from about 1902, followed by discs for Odeon and Pantophone in 1904 and 1905.   This set will include some 23 of these incredibly rare recordings from the operatic and song repertory. Léon Melchissédec was born in 1843 and died in 1925.  He was successful at the Opéra-Comique, the Théâtre Lyrique, and the Paris Opéra.  His voice was polished and expressive.  His first record was an 1899 seven-inch Berliner of the  drum major’s aria from Thomas’s Le Caid, which although highly abridged, shows his voice and technique in remarkable condition. Besides this extremely rare disc, this CD compilation will contain a group of Pathé cylinders, four Zonophone discs, and six sides recorded for the APGA label when Melchissédec was 65 years old. Jean Baptist Faure was born in 1830 and died in 1914.  In addition to composing a number of classical songs, which gained immense popularity, Faure was a celebrated baritone who created many important roles including Nélusko (Meyerbeer’s L'Africaine), Rodrigue (Verdi’s Don Carlos), and Thomas’s Hamlet. There exist two non-commercial wax cylinders from about 1905, thought possibly to be sung by Faure, though this is only a supposition. On these cylinders, one hears a baritone of advanced years whose voice yet evinces skill and authority. It should be mentioned that this set will also include the seven Pathé recordings by Maurice Renaud which we were unable to fit on to our Renaud compilation released in 1998.

 

Conchita Supervia vol. 5 Discovered Rarities 51010-2 (1 CD) Over the past several years, we have published four volumes (2 CDs each) containing the complete known recordings of the Catalan mezzo, Conchita Supervia. We delayed issuing volume four because there were four recordings which we were still trying to locate: Ki3512 Canço de traginers (Longás); SO6942 Boires baixes (Granados); SO7901 El milagro de la virgen: Romanza (Chapi); SO7902 La reina mora: Romanza (Serrano). After what we thought was exhaustive searching, we more or less gave up hope and issued the final volume minus these titles. Now that the series has been completed, those four sides have finally surfaced. Thanks to a library in Barcelona and a private collector, this year we will be issuing these very rare sides, together with six alternative takes not included in our previous releases, and a portion of the sound track of the English film, “Evensong” where Supervia portrays a young opera singer. The accompanying booklet will contain only a list of the contents. The CD will be priced at $9.00, and our preferred customers will pay no postage cost.

 

	Frederic Lamond Plays Liszt and Beethoven: A Selection of Broadcasts and Commercial Recordings 52071-2 (2 CDs) Frederic Lamond was born in Glasgow in 1868. As a teenager, he studied with Hans von Bülow; had lessons with Liszt at Weimar and Rome; was coached by Brahms; and was greatly influenced by Anton Rubinstein, with whom he was well acquainted. In addition to being an early champion of Brahms, Lamond is considered an authority on Beethoven's piano music and is a member of that small circle of Liszt pupils who had the opportunity to make records. This two CD set includes two concerto broadcasts, never before available, and a selection of his best recorded performances of Beethoven and Liszt. The set will also include a brief but fascinating spoken reminiscence by Lamond about Liszt.
	Partially sponsored by Donald Manildi

 

	Ernst Levy vol. 4 A Selection of Unpublished Concert and Studio Recordings 52072-2 (2 CDs) When Marston began the Ernst Levy series early in the company's history, few knew this remarkable pianist and many were stunned by his artistry and deep insight into the music of Beethoven and Liszt. The series developed into a mission not only to uncover and make available additional Levy performances, but also to expand the accepted perceptions of some of the most important works in the piano repertoire. This fourth installment will not disappoint. It comprises concert and studio recordings of Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven, and Liszt, including a virtually unknown performance of the Schubert Posthumous Sonata in A; four Haydn sonatas recorded in Switzerland, and unreleased live performances of Beethoven’s Op. 111 and Liszt's B- Minor sonata.
	Partially sponsored by Frank Levy and Frank Self.

 

	The Complete Josef Hofmann: vol. 9 52058-2 The culmination of over a decade of releases, Marston is issuing the final volume of the complete Josef Hofmann recordings. Hofmann combined unparalleled virtuosity with emotion, understanding, and spontaneity to create some of the finest piano playing ever recorded. This two-CD set contains the earliest extant Hofmann recordings (three wax cylinders from 1896), alternate takes of his Columbia and Brunswick sessions, and a soundtrack from a short Bell Telephone Hour promotional film. Since this is the last volume, we are making ever effort to leave no stone unturned. We are previewing all known sources of Hofmann’s Bell Telephone Hour broadcasts since the Telephone Hour programs were performed twice, once for an east coast audience, the second time for the west. Previously issued Bell Telephone Hour broadcasts were not identified as “east” or “west,” so comparing all available sources is necessary.
	Partially sponsored by Richard Childers