Caruso's first Victor recording session

[beaumonde]

This was recorded (very well indeed) on Feb. 1, 1904 with an unknown pianist, re-recording one of a number of selections that he done a couple of years before in Milan for G&T (although this has an extra verse or two, being spread between a 10" and 12" disc), and recorded again with orchestra (sometimes more than once I think) in years to come.

Here are parts 1 & 2 of "Una furtiva lagrima" from Donizetti's "L'Elisir d'Amore". Recorded (like the entire session) at 78.26 rpm, transferred here with a 4.0 mil TE stylus. I've joined the 2 sides together.

[FloridaClay]

Thank you. The quality is really quite amazing.

Clay

[Lenoirstreetguy]

Very peachy indeed! The piano accompanied Victor Red Seals had an immediacy and fidelity that they somewhat lost when they went to orchestral accompaniments in late 05 and early 06. I'm certainly not the first one to observe this . P G Hurst in The Golden Age Recorded goes on about this. Melba sounds much better, for example, in the earlier piano accompanied sides. The later one have an unpleasant edge to the voice which I don't think she exhibited in the hall.

Jim

[EdiBrunsVic]

I enjoyed listening to the music and thank you for sharing it.

[recordo]

I love this recording very much - even though Caruso takes it so slow!!!

The accompanist is reputed to be C. H. H. Booth - Victor staff accompanist (according to "Caruso Records" by John Bolig, page 11 (Mainspring Press, Colorado)

I began my career as an accompanist so I always take note of this stuff...