Alma Gluck & Louise Homer ~ Mira, O Norma (1916)

[oakroom48]

This may be the loveliest version of this lovely duet I've ever heard. Thank you so very much. -b

[rupepill]

Transposing and part swapping aside, this is a performance where both voices sound very well together. Presumably the two artists co-operated happily; certainly their voices were beautifully matched.

[mayatatyana1]

Thank you, Doug. Exquisite performance. Maya

[EdmundStAustell]

This is absolutely wonderful! The beauty of those two voice in harmony simply melts the listener! I am sure that the reason for the pitch and the vocal assignments are purely practical in nature. As a harpsichordist, I am more than aware of technical reasons for lower tuning.I currently have my own instrument tuned in Eb meantone, around 392, largely to keep the damned strings from breaking in Midwest American humidity! Listening to them, I's sure they did whatever sounded best on the record.

[CharlotteinWeimar]

Fascinating. How strict we have become in sticking to what we are told is the composer's score. It seems certain that concert pitch is now considerably higher than in Bellini's day; so transposition down to ease strain on the voices should be welcomed. Sopranos such as Grisi sang both Adalgisa & Norma which partly explains the swapped lines & contralto Homer is unlikely to have sung Norma complete. There's a fine novel 'Of Lena Geyer' written about Alma Gluck.

[gmmix]

Very interesting recording and one I never heard. Nice blend of voices. Thanks for this.

[MrGer2295]

ALMA GLUCK (May 11, 1884 – October 27, 1938) was a Romanian-born American soprano, one of the world's most famous female singers at the peak of her career (circa 1910).

Molto Bello!!! Thank you for sharing this video.

[dialectgirl]

Very neat recording, thank you! :)

[Bivolari]

This is one of the oddest Mira Norma's ever put on disc. It is sung in the key of D. Possibly sounding a lot closer to what people of the 1830's heard. Pitch in Italy at that time, was at least a whole tone down from today's 440. So if sung in the original F, we would hear it in Eb, which is the normal transposition. If transposed in the earlier time it would sound closer to this rendition. Gluck sings Adalgisa and Homer , Norma. Yet in harmony, Gluck takes the higher voice. Who know? Enjoy!

[CurzonRoad]

@Bivolari

Really interesting, and yes, was also wondering about the role reversal here. As always, Stephen, thank you!

[andreernestgretry]

@CurzonRoad You say that Gluck is Adalgisa and Homer is Norma? What a strange thing. Why?