Renée Chemet – Victor Recordings
Release date: 12 December 2025
BDF-ED-85065-2
Nicknamed ‘the French Kreisler’, Renée Chemet was one of the most popular female violinists in the period between the two World Wars, perfoming as a soloist under such legendary conductors as Arthur Nikisch, Gustav Mahler, Fritz Steinbach, Willem Mengelberg and Thomas Beecham. Although she began her career in Europe and Great Britain, by the mid 1920s, Chemet became extremely popular in the United States. She gave solo recitals in all the major American concert halls, including New York’s Metropolitan Opera House.
In 1924 she was signed as a ‘Red Seal’ artist by the Victor Company, joining the roster of their ‘star’ violinists: Kreisler, Elman and Heifetz. Like most of the major classical artists of the day, Chemet recorded many short works – including popular songs – beloved by audiences. Her highly expressive, heart-on-sleeve playing was well suited to these miniatures, and her records sold extremely well. Many of these songs were popularized by the leading tenors Enrico Caruso and John McCormack of her time, as well as Mario Lanza and Placido Domingo decades later. These include such well-known ballads as “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” and “I Hear You Calling Me”, as well as operetta numbers by Victor Herbert.
In 1932, Chemet traveled to the Far East, and was so taken with Japan that she actually took up residence there for several years. This CD includes her last commercial recording: Haru no umi (‘Sea of the Spring’) by the Japanese koto player Michio Miyagi. Following her husband’s death and the advent of the Second World War, she returned to her native France, where she resumed her performing career in a limited way until her death in 1977.
HANDEL – Violin Sonata No.6 in E
28 January 1925; first issued on Victor 6497 (matrix C 31809)
1. I Adagio
2. II Allegro
3. HAYDN (arr. Hartmann) – Minuet from Piano Sonata xx in C
9 November 1925; first issued on Victor 6609 (matrix CVE 33771)
4. MOZART (arr. Kreisler) – Rondo from ‘Haffner’ Serenade
28 January 1925; first issued on Victor 6497 (matrix C 31812)
5. MENDELSSOHN – Spring Song
2 December 1926; first issued on Victor 1242 (matrix BVE 37066)
6. TCHAIKOVSKY (arr. Hartmann) – Nocturne in C-sharp minor
9 November 1925; first issued on Victor 6609 (matrix CVE 33770)
7. VIEUXTEMPS – Sérénité, op.45 no.5
9 November 1925; first issued on Victor 1242 (matrix BVE 31863)
8. ALFREDO D’AMBROSIO – Romance in D, op.9
21 April 1924; first issued on Victor 6473 (matrix C 30001)
9. FELIX BOROWSKI – Adoration in D
21 April 1924; first issued on Victor 6473 (matrix C 29424)
10. FRANCIS THOMÉ – Under the Leaves
19 January 1927; first issued on Victor 1228 (matrix BVE 29429)
11. GABRIEL PIERNÉ – Sérénade, op.7
29 December 1927; first issued on Victor 1302 and HMV DA 955 (matrix BVE 41713)
12. ENRICO TOSELLI – Serenade, op.3 no.1
29 December 1927; first issued on Victor 1302 and HMV DA 955 (matrix BVE 41712)
13. JAMES BLAND – Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
15 April 1931; first issued on Victor 1552 (matrix BVE 53011)
14. THURLOW LIEURANCE – By the Waters of Minnetonka
3 December 1926; first issued on Victor 1228 (matrix BVE 29428)
15. CHARLES MARSHALL – I Hear You Calling Me
2 December 1926; first issued on Victor 1291 (matrix BVE 37063)
16. JAMES CARROLL BARTLETT – A Dream
25 April 1929; first issued on Victor 1442 (matrix BVE 51662)
17. WESTELL GORDON – One Little Dream of Love
10 November 1925; first issued on Victor 1132 (matrix BVE 31865)
18. GUY D’HARDELOT – Because
15 April 1931; first issued on Victor 1551 (matrix BVE 53005)
19. VICTOR HERBERT – Gypsy Love Song
4 February 1929; first issued on Victor 1402 (matrix BVE 49831)
20. VICTOR HERBERT – Kiss Me Again
4 February 1929; first issued on Victor 1402 (matrix BVE 49833)
21. REGINALD DE KOVEN – Oh, Promise Me
30 December 1927; first issued on Victor 1328 (matrix BVE 41715)
22. HAYDN WOOD – Roses of Picardy
2 December 1926; first issued on Victor 1291 (matrix BVE 37062)
23. HAYDN WOOD – Love’s Garden of Roses
30 December 1927; first issued on Victor 1328 (matrix BVE 41716)
24. MIYAGI (arr. Chemet) – Haru no umi (‘The Sea in the Spring’)
1932; first issued on HMV 13220 (matrix JVE 4374/75)
