Hello all, I'm responding to Bob Ricco's posting [200426 MMD]
concerning Italian operatic piano rolls.  I have some of the same
"La Traviata" rolls, but bearing different numbers.  The Connorized
set is 4 rolls, 4070, 4071, 4072, and 4073 (parts 1-4), arranged by
Sam A. Perry.  The Virtuoso set (parts 1-4) are numbers 135, 294,
200, and 296.  These fine arrangements are by M. V. Cardilli.

QRS issued a 3-roll "Traviata" set, numbers 21117, 21118, and 21119.
These rolls were later issued, with Italian words and "mandolin"
effects added, under the "WF" (foreign) prefix.

All of the above arrangements are musically first rate.  Virtuoso
also perforated a 5-roll set of Verdi's "Aida".  They also issued
a "kick butt" roll of "Barber of Seville" Overture that plays the
entire keyboard!

If any of you out there are really serious Pianolists, do a marathon
session and pump through the Aeolian Co. 14-roll set of Gounod's
"Faust".  It's the _entire_ opera, true to the score, unedited.
Only the ballet music is missing, and the 7 ballet numbers were also
issued by Aeolian.  These can be found on the Themodist-Metrostyle
or Universal labels.  I have all the roll numbers for the "Faust"
set if anyone is interested.

I have often wondered if there is enough demand to warrant reissue of
these old operatic rolls.  I envisioned a reissue with fancy-schmancy
leaders, with a short story of the action in the opera on each roll.
I have had endless hours of enjoyment listening to these rolls and
they are well worth collecting just for their musical value.

One last thought -- Victoria, in Spain, issued Richard Wagner's
_entire_ opera, "Der Ring des Nibelungen," on piano rolls.  Rumor is
that it's a set of 87 rolls!  Has anyone ever run across these rolls?

Henry Prellwitz
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
slagman1@verizon.net.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]