Tenor John McCormack, Violinist Fritz Kreisler, Pianist Vincent O'Brien: Le Nil (1914)

[2ndviolinist]

Better all around than the Gluck/Zimbalist, especially Fritz though I like it sung by a female voice.

[eclecticdufus]

Beautiful piece of singing, with that beautifully managed G above the staff at the end. Where can you hear that nowadays? Odd not to hear him change the gender to bienaimee, lol.

[SuperLuckydream]

The rapturous singing and perfectly matched violin. Combined they create perfection. Bravo!

[jehovahuponyou]

YOU PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIKE THIS LONG HAIR MUSIC? DAMN! LOOK, GET YOU SOME MERLE HAGGARD AND A SIX PACK IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LIVE!

:^)

GOOD STUFF, THANKS FOR POSTING THIS, FRITZ IS AMAZING!

[AmhranaiAlainn]

Thanks for posting Doug. IMO, the McCormack & Kreisler recordings are probably the most symbiotic in the history of recorded collaborations of this nature. With Le Nil, once again we see McCormack's genius at being able to vocally depict the imagery of a song in such a mysterious and evocative way equally with the sensitive and emphatic interweaving of Kreisler's polished violin, the result of which, carries the mind of the listener to the places conjured up by the two masters of their art.

[mayatatyana1]

Doug, thank you very much. Maya

[stuartliff]

Unbelievable! One can only shed tears over the loss of singing of this calibre from our current society. McCormack was simply incomparable. Listen to his Figlia del Reggimento aria and then try any version by one of our ranking tenors. There is simply no comparison. Symptomatic of how everything has been dumbed down. Many thanks for the opportunity to listen to this master-singer once more. Vivian

[mayatatyana1]

Doug, this is very beautiful! Thank you very much. Maya

[CurzonRoad]

@mayatatyana1

Thank YOU, Maya... very much!

Doug --

[fan2jnrc]

Oh my God! I never hear this before! He's even best than Vallin and Gluck!

Unbelievable! That brings tears to my eyes...

[CurzonRoad]

@fan2jnrc

Thank you... very much!

[EdmundStAustell]

Absolutely fascinating....I wonder if go too far in comparing the silvery tones of McCormack's acoustically recorded voice and the equally silvery tones of the great Kreisler. Sound -wise, it's a match made in heaven. Great post, thank you!

[theirisher]

Some critics accused McCormack of lacking passion; what he lacked was histrionics. No sobbing, vocal jerks or aspirates, just the genuine emotion of a man who feels the music and words and expresses them in a credulous "modern" manner. Again, critics panned McCormack's acting in opera but if you watch his film, Song O' My Heart, you will see that he underplayed his scenes and thus was a more natural actor than many of his thespian contemporaries.

[Kievest]

Poetry, emotional truth and divine beauty...three glorious voices speak as one!

Have no defense for either John McCormack or Fritz Kreisler...no wall of any

construction can keep them out of my heart or soul! Thank you for this

superb posting and for the utterly spectacular photo of the handsome-

beyond-all-description John McCormack! Bravi to all!

[pax41]

I have always enjoyed Mr McCormack and this piece excels in every aspect. Thank you Doug for another gem.

[dantitustimshu]

Utterly enchanting! McCormack's tender, honeyed tenor voice and Kreisler's bitter-sweet, pathos-filled violin sound like a pair of lovers pouring out their deepest thoughts to each other. Many thanks, Doug, for sharing this delightful recording. A marvelous violin-voice duo.

[opertutto]

McCormack's early recordings bring a high level of satisfaction. Lovely dimenuendo near the beginning of "Le nil." Gorgeous piano on last note. Your transfer, Doug, is quite fine. Nice photo, too. George

[genia106]

EXQUISITE! Kreisler and McCormack.....

Just love the violin,,Kreisler makes it sing... Merci.

[gmmix]

For my taste, every recording McCornack made is well worth hearing. Not unlike Tauber, he had the ability to elevate even "a popular piece" to the level of an art song. Thank you for this posting.

[rupepill]

@gmmix Given their shared gift for communicating and establishing a bond with audiences, the mention of Tauber in association with McCormack is very apt. They apparently enjoyed a friendly rivalry, and Mrs Lily McCormack wrote of an incident at a Hollywood party (ast Basil Rathbone's house, I think) where her husband and Richard Tauber commandeered a piano and played a piece, each using a different key and each stubbornly maintaining that his was the correct key.

[sospello]

Beautiful, evocative pairing of these two great artists I had not heard before. Thank you, Doug.

[stuartliff]

Wonderful to hear this glorious voice again and the equallly sweet tones of Kreisler. Thank you so much for reminding me how much the art of singing has degraded in the past half century or so. They certainly do not sing like this any more . Fine photo also.

Vivian

[meltzerboy]

Masterful singing by McCormack and a worthy companion to the great recording by Alma Gluck. The McCormack-Kreisler collaborations are quite unique. Thanks for posting, Doug.

[Shabannie]

I downloaded some McCormack songs awhile back that I might use eventually. This is a nice post!

---------Ellen

[spannerworks1]

Doug

Great to hear John Mc I have some of his records and sorry I have not been commenting recently. I have however been watching your videos.

Warm regards

Richard

[abendstunde49]

Have never heard this before either. It is wonderful!

[CurzonRoad]

@abendstunde49

Hi abendstunde49:

Thank you, very much!

Cheers, etc.

Doug --

[AulicExclusiva]

Supreme lyric singing from McCormack, especially in the vocalises. Kreisler's tone and phrasing are, of course, pure delight.

[CurzonRoad]

@AulicExclusiva

Hi AE: Thanks for your comment, and thanks again for the translation of this song some months back for the great Alma Gluck recording! For space considerations afraid the text is all bunched together.... oh well! All Best. Cheers, etc. Doug --

[Labienus]

Thanks-never heard this before-but always a joy to hear the "king of Irish tenors"

What's a matter they couldn't find an Irish fiddler?

Also first on that nice photo of a young Mc

[IamHelenKeller]

Thanks for sharing this beautiful recording! :)

[CurzonRoad]

@IamHelenKeller

Hi Helen:

And thank you.... very much!

Doug --

[65attila]

Doug . This and the other @10 pieices John and Fririz recorded are marvels of beauty and musicality - what a great combo.

Thanks-John

[Bivolari]

Lovely. Beautifully sung by McCormack. Anything with Kreisler is something to treasure.