Adelina Patti Cylinder at EMI Archives....

[transformingArt]

The earliest Patti I have is a genuine testpressing of December 1905, still bearing only the matrix number, from my favorite song: Pur dicesti

I actually have two superb copies of 'Pur Dicesti', one is a Japanese Limited-edition "Historical Record Society" pressing from 1937 (pressed from IRCC matrix), and the second one is a 'Private' pressing with White Victrola label and typewritten informations. Pressed on a Z type shellac and the sound is unbelievably clear.

I also have several other Patti discs, mostly not-so-good condition, especially the original pressing of the famous "La Calasera". The loudest two notes were completely damaged by needle wear, so there's no way for me to play this thing without skidding (Even modern turntables can't do much).

However, I can't decide my opinion about the speed. Marston provided his opinion, and Historic Masters also wrote about their opinion, but still it doesn't sound correct to me.

[Starkton]

especially the original pressing of the famous "La Calasera". The loudest two notes were completely damaged by needle wear, so there's no way for me to play this thing without skidding.

I am after this record since many years. Could you please make a scan of the label and, especially, a closeup of the damaged grooves. I am very interested how it looks.

[Swing Band Heaven]

....and the second one is a 'Private' pressing with White Victrola label and typewritten informations. Pressed on a Z type shellac and the sound is unbelievably clear.

Is this type of shellac the same as was used in laminated columbia pressing from the 20's? Some of those surfaces were virtually silent although I do find that the "rumble" from the surface can be quite prominant - although this can be filtered out.

S-B-H

[OrthoSean]

Well, "La Calasera" came out on HMV's archive VB series and it's pretty easy to find in usually mint condition, so I've settled on a nice copy of that, sans HMV crackle (I think I had to get about 5 copies of it before finding a quiet one).

Japanese pressings of IRCCs are nice, laminated pressings, I have Calve on IRCC 5 this way. It's like glass. I've collected Victor White Label custom order pressings for years and I always grab them when I can, they're usually on very nice material, but not always. I've got a really noisy Gadksi here. It has no wear at all and different stylus sizes do no good. Must have been a bad mix.

The "Z" type shellac is nice. The Victor IRCC pressing of Pur Dicesti is on Z-type shellac and quite silent. Of course, I bought the Historic Masters set. I've always played Pur Dicesti at around 73.5 RPM, which puts it D flat (I think). She sounds fine to me at that speed, if you went up to 76.6 (one step), she sounds funny, go down a step to 71 and she sounds like a baritone. I know speeds are subjective, but I don't see much room on this one for movement.

I know Ward quite well and we've discussed pitching Patti, Melba, Tamagno and DeLucia quite frequently. I'm good friends with another party who helped do all the pitching on Ward's Patti CD, in fact, he was here visiting a couple of weeks back and we listened to all the '05 Pattis and tried stepping them up or down one and, really, she sounds right on at about 73.5.

Again, just my $.02

Sean

[FellowCollector]

For anyone interested in Adelina Patti recordings I wanted to mention that I recently posted a video on my YouTube channel (see link below) of one of her early Victor "PATTI" Record labels from my collection. While my interest in opera is minimal I sincerely appreciate the legends of opera and the unusual early opera recordings. Here is a direct link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NGUevF3HBg Best Wishes, Doug

[Lenoirstreetguy]

Interesting that we're talking about Patti because I have been reading Landon Ronald's autobiography. He's the man at the piano in the first group of Patti recordings. Ronald was an accompanist, coach and later a conductor of note. He was also the musical adviser to HMV. His comments about the Patti sessions have been extensively quoted...like on EVERY liner note to every Patti reissue....but it is interesting to read the full narrative in the context of his book. I will scan some of the pics from this volume later. These are far less known but there is none of him and Patti at the recording horn, sadly. The Patti sessions, have been written about by all three of the main HMV protagonists: Ronald, Fred Gaisberg and Dixon,( I think...I'll check on that one.. ) one of the gramophone reps who talks about having an auto breakdown on the way to Patti's castle and having the startling realization that in 1905, within automobiling distance of London he couldn't speak the language! Welsh!

Jim

[Lenoirstreetguy]

Back with the scans. The second is the inscribed photo that Patti gave Landon Ronald. The first is the fly leaf of the book, Variations on a Personal Theme inscribed by the man himself. When I got this book I got a note from the dealer indicating that it was an inscribed copy. I was pleased.It says To dear old Phil from Lan Sept/22

Jim

[FellowCollector]

Very nice, Jim. A good find indeed. Thanks for sharing the info and the pics. I enjoy "behind the scenes" details and personal interest stories shared by people who were there and experienced them - and had the presence of mind to put them in print. Doug

[transformingArt]

Well, "La Calasera" came out on HMV's archive VB series and it's pretty easy to find in usually mint condition, so I've settled on a nice copy of that, sans HMV crackle (I think I had to get about 5 copies of it before finding a quiet one).

Here's the photo of HMV Archive series pressing of "La Calasera" - sorry for the bad scanning - , which I briefly had in my possession some time ago, but later sold away with couple of other reissue pressings. I am pretty sure that I have the original "Gramophone 'Patti' Record" pressing, but so far I can't find it, but I'll put the photo as soon as I can find it.

Mark.

[OrthoSean]

Hi Mark,

That's the one. I've probably got a few copies of it around if you end up wanting one, or can't find the original. I'm pretty sure this is the only Patti side I don't own on an original pressing, and my understanding is that it was withdrawn almost immediately because of the blasting that happened after like two plays with a steel needle so a lot of people returned it and it was withdrawn right away.

It would be neat to find an original pressing of it, but I'm not holding my breath!

Sean