Customer Reviews

Acoustic Victor & HMV recordings (1912-1914)

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A local New York professional opera enthusiast has concluded that Corelli is the most popular operatic tenor, followed by Jussi Bjoerling. But if the question is, who had the most beautiful tenor voice ever impressed upon wax, we must lift up John McCormack. Here is true bel canto which no one else has ever equalled. These two CD's contain some of the most exquisite sounds ever issued by a human throat. Let the galleries declare their enthusiasm for stentorian high C's, the real lover of great singing will find much more to their like her than in all the verisssimo arias. Listen to the two "Mefistofele" Arias (Boito) and ask yourself if they have ever since been so beautifully sung. This recording belongs in the collection of every aspiring tenor, just to remind what can be accomplished by art and perfect singing.

If you remember hearing transfers of acoustic recordings to LP, you remember how hard it was to really connect with the music and performer through all the rumble, noise and resonance. This audio restoration is the most astonishing technical feat I have ever heard. The noise is now only a gentle background presence, not the roar of yesteryear. And even more important, it is constant in volume- in other words not a distraction. The fidelity really lets us hear what the early recording engineers really achieved. That said, what this brings to us are the performances of one of the world's greatest singers in richly emotional popular songs (and a few opera arias). There are so many of those old sentimental pieces no one could get away with recording anymore, but hold such a splendid reward for those of us who love them. John McCormack's recordings receive with this reissue the wonderful presentation they so richly deserve. Many many thanks to the label and Mr. Marston who made it possible.

This along with Vol. 1 is simply the best McCormack transfers available from this period. The master of the trade, Ward Marston has outdone himself this time. Waiting for Vols. 3,4,5!