The Prague-born soprano Emmy Destinn (1878–1930) was renowned for her expressive acting and emotional interpretations. After making her initial success as a member of the Berlin Opera, she joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1908 where she became a favoured partner of Caruso. Destinn was especially popular at Covent Garden where she gave the London première of Madama Butterfly in 1905. Chosen for the title rôles of Strauss’s Salome and Puccini’s The Girl of the Golden West by the composers themselves, Destinn was perhaps the most eminent dramatic soprano of her time. Her complete Victor recordings include arias from Mozart’s Magic Flute, Wagner’s Tannhauser, Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades, Verdi’s Aida and II trovatore, and Puccini’s Tosca and Madama Butterfly. Destinn’s celebrated recordings of Czech songs (including several composed by the soprano herself) are also featured in this 2-CD set.