Catalogue

THE SYMPOSIUM OPERA COLLECTION VOLUMES 1 & 2

NIKOLAI NIKOLAYEVICH FIGNER (1857-1918) MEDEA MEI-FIGNER (1859-1952)
Their records, made in Russia over a century ago, and amongst the very first to be accorded Celebrity-Record status, were not issued outside Russia.  They are now extremely scarce, indeed many of the transfers for this album are almost certainly from unique surviving copies.  On these two very full compact discs it is possible, for the first time in a century, to form a comprehensive assessment of their singing.  The records portray them as soloists and, for what they were even more adored, in duet.  Also examples of Renée Efimovna Radina-Figner (1872-1944).

*  Creator Record

Nicolai Figner (in Russian)

I remember an evening - Cui - Nov 1901 - G&T Red Seal 1532B - 22601
In my soul - Wrangel - Nov 1901 - G&T Red Seal 1533B - 22602
You are my morning & They loved one another  - Wrangel - Nov 1901 - G&T 293x - 22547
In the garden shadows - Balabanov - Nov 1901 - G&T 294x - 22548
Oprichnik: As before God and thee - Tchaikovsky - Nov 1901 - G&T 295x-D-2z - 22549


Medea Mei-Figner

Penso (in Italian) - Tosti - Nov 1901 - G&T 296x-D-Z2 - 23122
Night  - Rubinstein - Nov 1901 - G&T 297x - 23123
Werther: Air des larmes (in Russian) - Massenet - Nov 1901 - G&T 298x-F-Z2 - 23124
Carmen: Habanera (in Russian) - Bizet - Nov 1901 - G&T 299x - 23125
Carmen: Chanson Bohème(in Russian) - Bizet - Nov 1901 - G&T 300x-F-22 - 23131

Nicolai Figner (in Russian)

Fra Diavolo: Barcarolle  - Auber - Nov 1901 - Neographon record 1588B - 22605
*Pique Dame: Forgive me, bright vision - Tchaikovsky - Nov 1901 - G&T 1589B - 22618
The fateful moment - Tchaikovsky - Nov 1901 - G&T 325x-D-2z - 22554
*Dubrovsky: O give me oblivion - Napravnik - Nov 1901 - G&T 326x-D-22 - 22555
I Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba - Leoncavallo - Nov 1901 - G&T 327x - 22556

Medea Mei-Figner

Night love and moon (in Russian) - Davidov - Nov 1901 - G&T 338x-D-2z - 23132
Fior che langue (in Italian) - Rotoli - Nov 1901 - G&T 339x-D-2z - 23133
Tosca: vissi d’arte (in Italian) - Puccini - Nov 1901 - G&T 341x-D-2z - 23134
*Pique Dame: Lisa’s aria (in Russian) - Tchaikovsky - Nov 1901 - G&T 342x-D-2z - 23135

Nicolai Figner & Medea Mei-Figner

Le Crucifix (in French) - J.-B. Fauré - 1902 - G&T 369x - 24057
Do not tempt me needlessly (in Russian) - Glinka - 1902 - G&T 370x-No-2z - 24058
Seagull’s cry (in Russian) - Grodsky - 1902 - G&T 371x - 24059
Mefistofele: Lontano, lontano (in Russian) - Boito - 1902 - G&T 372x - 24060
* Dubrovski: Ne jamais la voir (in French) - Napravnik - 1902 - G&T 373x-No-2z

Medea Mei-Figner

Harold: Cradle song (in Russian) - Napravnik - 1902 - G&T 436?x - 23146
Tosca: vissi d’arte (in Italian) - Puccini - Nov 1901 - G&T 437x - 23147

Nicolai Figner (in Russian)

Ich hab’ im Traum geweinet - Schumann - 1902 - G&T 1716B - 22667
Les Huguenots: Plus blanche - Meyerbeer - 1902 - G&T 444x-N/o-2z - 22594
La Bohème: Chi son? Sono un poeta - Puccini - 1902 - G&T 445x
Otello: Ora e per sempre - Verdi - 1902 - G&T 447x - 22597


Medea Mei-Figner (in Russian)

Carmen: Habanera  - Bizet - 1902 - G&T 362z - 23125X
Night love and moon - Davidov - 1902 - G&T 363z - 23132X
Carmen: Chanson bohème - Bizet - 1902 - G&T 364z - 23131X
Harold: Cradle song - Napravnik - 1902 - G&T 365z-T2-2z - 23146X

Nicolai Figner (in Russian)

*Dubrovsky: O give me oblivion  - Napravnik - 1902 - G&T 367z-T2-2z - 22555X
I Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba - Leoncavallo - Nov 1901 - G&T 370z - 22556X
Les Huguenots: Plus blanche - Meyerbeer - Nov 1902/3 - G&T 1y - 022000
The North Star - Nov 1902/3 - G&T 6409L - 3-22716
I love - Taskin - Nov 1902/3 - G&T 6410L - 3-22717
Dream of love - Wrangel - Nov 1902/3 - G&T 6410L - 3-22717
The birches rustle gently - Verderevsky - Nov 1902/3 - G&T 6411L - 3-22718
Ich hab’ im Traum geweinet - Schumann - Nov 1907/8 - G&T 6412L - 3-22719
Today for the last time (Soldier’s song) - Nov 1907/8 - G&T 6413L - 3-22720

Renée Radina-Figner (in Russian)

Oprichnik: It seems that I dream of noises - Tchaikovsky - 1907/8 - G&T 6421L - X-2-63027

Nicolai Figner (in Russian), N.T. Menasavich (piano)

Si vous l’aviez compris - Denza - Nov 1907/8 - G&T 6422L - 3-22704
Tosca: E luceven le stelle - Puccini - Nov 1907/8 - G&T 6427L - 3-22705
I Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba - Leoncavallo - Nov 1907/8 - G&T 6428L - 3-22706
Roméo et Juliette: Ah! Leve-toi soleil - Gounod - Nov 1907/8 - G&T 6430L - 3-22707
In the garden shadows (in Russian) - Balabanov - 25/11/09 - G&T 6977r - X-2-62481
Why? - Tchaikovsky - 25/11/09 - G&T 6978r - 2-62482

Renée Radina-Figner

Au Printemps (in Russian) - Gounod - 25/11/09 - G&T 6979r - X-63896

Medea Mei-Figner

Carmen: Séguedille (in Russian) - Bizet - c. 1903 - G&T - 23080
In the morning I bring you violets (in Russian) - Meyer-Helmund - c. 1903 - G&T - 23081
Folksongs:  Ein Männlein steht im Walde & ? (in Russian) - c. 1929 - 593b
E canta il grillo (in Russian) - Billi - c. 1929 - 642 - 18246
Stornellatrice (in Russian) - Respighi - c. 1929 - 643 - 18246
Stornellatrice (in Russian) - Respighi - c. 1929 - 643A - 18246
At the ball (in Russian) - Tchaikovsky - c. 1929 - 654 - 18247