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The Complete Caruso including The Original Victor Talking Machine Co. Master Recordings
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The Complete Caruso including The Original Victor Talking Machine Co. Master Recordings

Facts

StudioRCA
Release DateNovember 20, 1990
UPC Code090266049523
 

About The Complete Caruso including The Original Victor Talking Machine Co. Master Recordings

From the youthful bloom and impetuous swagger of Enrico Caruso's debut 1902 recordings to the darker, almost baritonal overtones typifying his final sessions before the acoustic horn, the singer's resplendent vocalism and generous performing style remain the archetype for Italian tenors. As a child of the late 19th century, Caruso was prone to embellish upon composers' texts, yet his passion, communicative power, and soaring musicality transcend time. The Italian sessions from 1902 to 1904 and Caruso's recordings with piano between 1904 and 1905, along with two later sides, receive conventional, unaltered transfers. The remaining material is restored via the controversial Soundstream computer process, which fleshes out the lower partials of the voice while compromising its overtones, relegating the orchestral accompaniment to a rumbling backdrop rather than contributing partner. Yet many will find the Soundstream transfers easier on the ear. Those who wish to acquire the complete Caruso in a single package at midprice should not hesitate to purchase this significant set. --Jed Distler Amazon.com essential recording

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. Act 1. Studenti! Udite!
  2. Act 1. Questa o quella
  3. Act 1. Celeste Aida
  4. Act 2. Chiudo gil occhi (Il Sogno)
  5. Act 2. Una furtiva lagrima
  6. Epilogue. Guinto sul passo estremo
  7. Act 1. Ah vieni qui ... No, non chiuder gli occhi vaghi
  8. Act 1. Dai campi, dai prati
  9. Act 3. E lucevan le stelle
  10. Act 1. Apri la tua finestra (Serenata)
  11. Act 1. Dai campi, dai prati
  12. Act 2. Amor ti vieta
  13. Act 1. Celeste Aida
  14. Act 2. Cielo e mar
  15. Act 1. Recitar! mentre preso dal delirio... Vesti la giubba
  16. O Lola (Siciliana)
  17. Act 2. No, più nobile
  18. Act 2. Una furtiva lagrima
  19. Act 3. E lucevan le stelle
  20. Act 1. Ah, vieni qui... No, non chiuder gli occhi vaghi
  21. Act 4. La donna è mobile
  22. O Lola (Siciliana)
Disc 2
  1. Act 3. E lucevan le stelle
  2. Act 1. Qui sotto il ciel
  3. Act 1. Questa o quella
  4. Act 4. La donna è mobile
  5. Act 2. Un furtiva lagrima
  6. Act 1. Celeste Aida
  7. Act 3. E lucevan le stelle
  8. Act 1. Recondita armonia
  9. O Lola (Siciliana)
  10. Act 1. Recitar! mentre preso dal delirio... Vesti la giubba
  11. Act 2. Chiudo gli occhi (Il Sogno)
  12. Act 1. Mi par d'udir ancora
  13. Act 3. Com'è gentil (Serenata)
  14. Act 2. Il fior che avevi a me tu dato
  15. Act 1. Ah, qual soave vision... Bianca al par di neve
  16. Act 2. Cielo e mar
  17. Intanto amici... Viva il vino (Brindisi)
  18. Act 3. M'apparì tutt'amor
  19. Act 1. Che gelida manina
  20. Act 3. Salut demeure chaste et pure
  21. Act 3. De quella pira
Disc 3
  1. Act 4. Spirto gentil, ne' sogni miei (Romanza)
  2. Act 3. Solenne in quest'ora
  3. Act 1. Celeste Aida
  4. Act 4. Mi batte il cor... O paradiso!
  5. Act 4. Bella figlia dell'amore (quartet)
  6. Act 4. O Mimì, tu più non torni
  7. Act 1. Un dì all'azzurro spazio (Improvviso)
  8. Act 1. Recitar! mentre preso dal delirio... Vesti la giubba
  9. Act 1. O soave fanciulla
  10. Act 1. Del tempio al limitar
  11. Act 2. Deserto in terra
  12. Act 2. Deserto in terra
  13. Act 2. Chi mi frena in tal momento? (sextet)
  14. Act 4. Bella figlia dell'amore (quartet)
  15. Act 3. Addio, dolce svegliare alla mattina
  16. Act 1. Un po' di vero c'è... Oh quanti occhi fisi
Disc 4
  1. Act 1. Questa o quella
  2. Act 4. La donna è mobile
  3. Act 3. Ah sì, ben mio
  4. Act 4. Se m'ami ancor... Ai nostri monti
  5. Act 1. Celeste Aida
  6. Act 1. Recondita armonia
  7. Act 3. E lucevan le stelle
  8. Act 3. Della natal sua terra il padre... O tu che in seno agl'angeli
  9. Act 4. O terra addio
  10. Act 4. La fatal pietra
  11. Act 2. Magiche note
  12. Act 2. Il fior che avevi a me tu dato
  13. Act 2. La fleur que tu m'avais jetée
  14. Act 1. Ah, qual soave vision... Bianca al par di neve
  15. Act 4. Quel suon, quelle preci... Ah! che la morte (Miserere)
  16. Act 4. Quel suon, quelle preci... Ah! che la morte (Miserere)
  17. Act 1. Solo, profugo, reietto!
Disc 5
  1. Act 1. Ô merveille!... A moi les plaisirs
  2. Act 3. Seigneur Dieu, que vois-je!
  3. Act 3. Eh! quoi! toujours seule?
  4. Act 3. Il se fait tard... Laisse-moi... Éternelle! Éternelle! Ô nuit d'amour
  5. Act 4. Que voulez-vous, messieurs?
  6. Act 5. Mon coeur est pénétré d'épouvante... Attends! Voici la rue... Alerte! ou vous êtes perdus
  7. Act 1. Studenti! Udite!
  8. Act 1. Ah, vieni qui... No, non chiu gli occhi faghi
  9. Act 2. Cielo e mar
  10. Act 1. Amore o grillo dir non saprei
  11. Act 3. Non ve l'avevo detto?... Addio fiorito asil
  12. Act 2. Nell'ore arcane della sua lussuria... Ora e per sempre addio
  13. O Lola (Siciliana)
  14. Act 2. No! Pagliaccio non son
  15. Act 2. Mal reggendo all'aspro assalto
  16. Act 4. Se m'ami ancor... Ai nostri monti

User Reviews

Average user review: 4.5 (10 reviews)

rating: 5 QuoteNo - the deffect is NOT on EVERY set!!!Quote
The deffect that some previous reviewers were so mad about did not happen to my set. After purchasing it for two years and listening to the disks every other day, they are still shiny and beautiful like new. You can't use the word "EVERY" so cavelierly, because you have not listened to EVERY set. December 8, 2006

rating: 5 QuoteThe Master of Italian Tenor Singing-Get itQuote
I have been collecting Caruso performance since 1960- of course they were on vinyl- I even had some 78's. I think the 78 and vinyl records produced a warmer tone, but it is a delight to have the Master's performances in one place. My vinyls are worn to shreds.

Except for the lighter and bel canto roles, Caruso is supreme in the Italian and some of the French repetoire. Last night I listened to the Quartet from Martha for the first time in many years. Caruso sings about a 20 second phrase beginning "Dormi
Pur" which had me in tears as it had in the past. The ease of Caruso cadenzas in "La donna e Mobile" and "Una Furtiva Lagrima" put most tenors with a 1/4 of Caruso's vocal weight and size to shame.

There are no American/Swedish or any other hyphenated Carusos. He was unique and I am a Bjoerling freak. I find it
odd that a previous reviwer mentioned Mario Lanza favorably with Caruso.

Lanza rarely performed on an opera stage. On recording his voice seems large but his singing is amateurish. He squeezes, forces, barks and croons. At times one can hear a pretty sound but I do not consider him a major opera singer.

Rudolf Bing's comment that people who heard Richard Tucker were just as lucky as those who heard Caruso is silly. Tucker was excellent but NOT Caruso.

Lauritz Melchior, in the heavy German repetoire and to my mind Otello, is as unique and uncomparable as Caruso is in the Italian and French repetoire.

May 20, 2006

rating: 1 QuoteWARNING-All Original Releases Corrode Because of DyeQuote
EVERYONE who bought the ORIGINAL multi-disc release has seen each disc become unplayable through corrosion because of a dye used to print the label side. BMG is well aware of this and has been inundated with demands for replacement.

This set is available in a subsequently released BUDGET compilation, also available through AMAZON. There are no manufacturing defects. April 24, 2005

rating: 5 Quotefrom a 13 year old kidQuote
it is a great cd. when they say complete, they mean complete! 12 cds about 70mins each. comes with booklet with recording dates and matrix #s. in cardboardy-leather box. i did not have a probelem with red batwing labels making a clear film. the set is from the 70's but is the quality that great any way? contains private recordings. March 15, 2005

rating: 4 QuoteThere are other, better optionsQuote
I was surprised to see that this set was still available. These transfers were made in the late 1970's at the dawn of the digital era and were state of the art for that time. But in cleaning up the surface noise these old digital transfers seriously flatten out the sound of Caruso's voice.

I would suggest that people interested in Caruso check out the "complete" Caruso series on Naxos with new digital restorations by the great sound engineer/artist Ward Marston. On the Naxos CD's the voice is preserved in a much more natural and subtle sound while all of the other noises are eliminated as much as possible. It's much more satisfying and true to the original recordings than these old RCA transfers. If you're going to spend $130.00 you should have the best available. It's only fair to Caruso. May 16, 2004

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