Collection on prominent figures in historical recorded sound

This collection was assembled at Historical Sound Recordings, Yale University, to provide supplementary information on, and pictorial images of, prominent figures associated with historical recorded sound. Over one thousand singers, composers, instrumentalists, actors and actresses, collectors, and others are represented. Individual files mostly include photographs, but occasionally there are correspondence and other documents from or pertaining to singers such as Jussi Björling, Lillian Blauvelt, Dame Clara Butt, Maria Callas, Emma Clavé, Feodor Chaliapin, Emmi Destin, Kirsten Flagstad, Beniamino Gigli, Selma Kurz, Blanche Marchesi, Nellie Melba, Ezio Pinza, Rosa Ponselle, and Blake Stern; composers such as Hector Berlioz, Arrigo Boito, Max Bruch, Léo Delibes, Pietri Mascagni, Jules Massenet, and Giacomo Puccini; conductors such as Sir John Barbirolli and Arturo Toscanini, the instrumentalists such as George Copeland, Dame Myra Hess, Wanda Landowska, Joseph Joachim, and Pablo de Sarasate; actresses such as Sarah Bernhardt and Ethel Barrymore; collectors such as Lawrence and Cora Witten, and many others.

The Lilli Lehmann, Victor Maurel, and Giuseppe Verdi files contain a number of handwritten correspondence by each person, many to each other.. Other items within the collection include letters and inscriptions to Madame Maurel from Lydia Lindgren and to Adelina Patti from Mr. Mario; a recording listing from Mado Robin; a manuscript of a musical excerpt from Arturo Toscanini; abulletin from the Vocal Record Collectors’ Society concerning Jean de REszke; and extensive articles and other documents concerning Jean Sibelius. This collection also includes programs and promotional clippings, such as those found in Henry Irving’s folder; articles in several languages, such as found in Heinrich Knote’s and Lillian Nordica’s folders; and sheet music books, such as found in Robert Stolz’s folder.

Most of the photographs are either portraits or images of vocalists posed in operatic roles(such as found in Rene Maison’s folder), both at a photo shoot and candid onstage.

Much of the material in the collection is undated, though many items may be traced empirically to the lifespan of their subject matter. Materials are undated unless otherwise specified.