Mezzo-soprano Zelie de Lussan speaks (London, 1946) / Rosy Morn (Ronald) - Recorded: May 17, 1903. Transfer by our good friend Houston Maples (R.I.P).
ZELIE DE LUSSAN (spoken word) ~ London, 1946
\"Although human gifts are as nothing, with the nothingness of eternity, I feel a strange emotion when speaking on my singing records of many years ago. But the gift of song is like a soul entering a living spirit, and nothing has so well conveyed the bliss of joy. I may add that, before saying au revoir, that I have been killed by fifty-seven Don Joses in that remarkable opera of Carmen. And I am still here to relate that I am still alive after these frightful endings. Fond Remembrance. Zelie De Lussan\"
Zelie de Lussan was one of the first to record for Victor's prestigious Red Seal label. Remembered for having performed Carmen some 5,000 times, her career was eclipsed by that of Emma Calve, who was pre-eminent in the role. The following is from \"A Concise Biographical Dictionary of Singers\" by K.J. Kutsch / Leo Riemens...
Zelie de Lussan (b. 1861, Brooklyn; d. December 18, 1949, London) She studied with her mother and gave concerts when she was sixteen, making her stage debut (1884) in Boston; she made her first appearance as a guest in London (1889) and was highly successful at Covent Garden (1895-1902). In 1894 she was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera, first singing Carmen with Jean De Reszke and Nellie Melba in the cast. In 1895 she sang there in the first performance of Falstaff with Victor Maurel. She returned to the Metropolitan (1898-1900). In 1907 she married the pianist Angelo Fromani and thereafter made only a single guest appearance as Carmen in 1910 at Covent Garden. With her wide ranging and expressive voice she was able to sing a great many soprano and mezzo-soprano roles.
