The Complete Recordings of Marie Delna and Selected Recordings of Jeanne Marié De’Lisle

At the turn of the last century, two of the greatest contraltos were Marie Delna and Jean Marié De’Lisle. Delna (1875-1932) had an expressive and striking voice with an immediacy and intensity that has rarely been duplicated. She debuted as Dido in Berlioz’s Les Troyens, she took part in the Paris premieres of Bruneau’s L’Attaque du Moulin and Massenet’s Werther, and premiered Godard’s La Vivandière. She recorded for Pathé and Edison (the latter more flattering to her voice). Jean Marié De’Lisle (1872-1926) recorded for G&T and Odeon between 1904 and 1906 resulting in nearly 100 records, many of which are lost today. She studied with her aunt Célestine Galli-Marié (the creator of Carmen and Mignon) and made her debut at the Opéra-Comique in 1896. Marié De’Lisle sang in the world premiere of Charpentier’s Louise, had a huge success as Charlotte in Massenet’s Werther, and succeeded her aunt as one of the great Carmens at the Opéra-Comique.