Jean De Reszke and Lillian Nordica sing Les Huguenots - Mapleson Cylinder

[eclecticdufus]

what a shame he refused to make commercial recordings. Caruso's is certainly the superior voice but the phrasing here from what one CAN hear is patrician. One can also hear they are singing in Italian, not French.

[gmmix]

If one focuses on the glorious singing and not on the surface noise, the aural experience is indeed rewarding. One wonders how much better the Mapelson cylinders were originally. They were over-played before Wm. Seltsam of Bridgeport acquired them for transfer to 78's. Those of us who've recorded on brown- or white-colored wax cylinders know all to well that every playing takes something from the original. Their lifespan is extremely limited.

[boeriolo]

What a pity the sound's so ruined! Two giants of belcanto...

[turn2green]

the last sentence of The Hound of the Baskervilles is "And now, my dear Watson, we have had some weeks of severe work, and for one evening, I think, we may turn our thoughts into more pleasant channels. I have a box for ‘Les Huguenots.’ Have you heard the De Reszkes? Might I trouble you then to be ready in half an hour, and we can stop at Marcini’s for a little dinner on the way?”" After searching You Tube I found this nice record. Thank you.

[AulicExclusiva]

Someone used to very ancient records, using earphones, can gather an awful lot from this awful recording!

[meltzerboy]

@AulicExclusiva It sounds clear as a bell to me! As you may know, Henderson thought de Reszke the superior singer to Caruso in virtually every role they shared although he also stated that Caruso had, by far, the more wondrous voice.