Blanche's Art of Bel Canto

Feb 27

Blanche Marchesi (1863-1940), the daughter of Mathilde Marchesi, who taught the art of bel canto as taught by Manuel García, sings at the age of 73.

Madam Marchesi, noted as being the "greatest singer without a voice," was no slouch. Listen to her trills, the pathos in her voice, and its youthful quality even when singing in the lower register. She had real technique, my friends! Find more of her art at Youtube, which seems to have just about everything she recorded.

Lastly, the New York Public Library of the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center has an amazing Marchesi Archive, which was given to the library by Blanche Marchesi's son—Ernest de Popper. Oh, the hours I have spent there!