The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Some voices seem to have been ideally suited to the acoustic recording process.
To my ears Caruso, Galli-Curci and McCormack outstandingly so. I have more records by these three singers than by any others.

Cody K wrote:
My favorite picture of her:

What beauty.

Henry wrote: The Nimbus CD transfers are also very quiet, but they just do not have the presence of the acoustic 78s played on an acoustic machine! It feels like she's practically in the same room with me when I play the originals! (Caruso has the same effect.)

Nimbus used a vintage EMG phonograph for their transfers, picked up with a microphone.

But I know what you mean, it can't duplicate a well tuned machine being played in the same room.

Wolfe wrote:Nimbus used a vintage EMG phonograph for their transfers, picked up with a microphone.

Something like it! Courtesy of emgcr: this is their first horn, said to perform better than the much larger setup they subsequently built and used.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MA957TfmIs

I'm lucky enough to have heard this one in the flesh - not as beautifully rich, refined and balanced as an EMG Xb Oversize, but impressive nevertheless.

Orchorsol wrote:
I'm lucky enough to have heard this one in the flesh - not as beautifully rich, refined and balanced as an EMG Xb Oversize, but impressive nevertheless.

Neat! Thanks for the link.

One even gets the sense of some bass coming through there. The electric recordings that Nimbus released with their process sounded too thin for me. But maybe it was the "Ambisonic" chamber.

Enough off topic wandering though...

Orchorsol wrote:

Wolfe wrote:Nimbus used a vintage EMG phonograph for their transfers, picked up with a microphone.

Something like it! Courtesy of emgcr: this is their first horn, said to perform better than the much larger setup they subsequently built and used.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MA957TfmIs

I'm lucky enough to have heard this one in the flesh - not as beautifully rich, refined and balanced as an EMG Xb Oversize, but impressive nevertheless.

I think Wolfe is right.

If memory serves, the earliest Prima Voce CD's were recorded using an EMG or Expert gramophone. The purpose built horns came later.

epigramophone wrote:I think Wolfe is right.

If memory serves, the earliest Prima Voce CD's were recorded using an EMG or Expert gramophone. The purpose built horns came later.

On a quick Google search, I stand corrected - thanks both!

Yes, that's right---they started off with an Expert Senior as the attached photos show, and then went on to record with the new GRP horns.

Some of the appeal of Galli-Curci's records lies in her choice of repertoire - she sings music that demands beauty of tone and charm of expression - she didn't sing the Brunnhilde, Tosca or Santuzza stuff so fashionable at the time. In fact she's quite old fashioned in her tastes - there's not much in her recorded repertoire that Patti (nearly 40 years her senior) wouldn't have sung. Hers was a lyrical voice, and she had the good sense to sing music that suited her gifts.

Another lyric soprano, an exact contemporary, who made most attractive records for Victor, was Alma Gluck, who sadly had an even shorter career before vocal problems set in.

On the evidence of her records, she must have made a smashing Gilda in Rigoletto. I especially like her duets with Giuseppe De Luca.