The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've been looking for "Ave Maria" sung by Enrico Caruso on ebay for the past year and a half with no luck. The only thing that keeps coming up is a record with Percy Kahn at the piano which isn't the version I want. I had this record when I was a kid and thought it was great. Is this a rare record to find? If any one has a copy please let me know. Thanks in advance, Bill

The Kahn version is the only Ave Maria which I can find in my H.J.Drummond 1946 Caruso discography.

Hi, Bill:

The Kahn version is the only one by Caruso ever released.
He did record the Bach-Gounod version with Kreisler but it was never published and, to the best of my knowledge, no test pressings have yet surfaced.

Steve

Hi Bill,

Victor #6024A/B has Pieta signore (Lord have mercy) on side A, and Campane a sera (Ave Maria) on side B. According to a book I have, both sides were recorded on 9/26/1918. Is that the Percy Kahn version?

Pete

Hi Pete,

The Italian song Campane a Sera (Evening Bells) is not really a setting of Ave Maria although it contains the last few words of the prayer at the end. The Kahn setting of Ave Maria was written by Percy Kahn, who accompanied Caruso at the piano on that and a few other recordings.

Steve

Thanks Steve. What a great site!

You're most welcome and it is indeed!

I forgot to mention--there is also a 1927 recording of Kahn's Ave Maria by Rosa Ponselle. She did a number of song recordings that Caruso also recorded and they make wonderful comparisons. You can hear Caruso's influence but of course she left her own unique stamp on these and everything she sang. My favourites of these are a delightful pairing of Tosti's 'A Vucchella and Luna d'Estate on that lovely little 10-inch record from 1926, Victor 1164. Her incomparable singing, and the voluptuous quality she brings to Luna d'Estate, are sheer magic.

Ok one more thing--- I can't resist pointing out that on this day in 1918 Ponselle made her operatic debut in Forza Delhi Destino opposite Caruso--which was also the Met's first performance of the opera.
How's that for timing in this discussion ha!

Make that Forza DEL Destino---thank you, Autocorrect lol