Customer Reviews

The Complete Caruso including The Original Victor Talking Machine Co. Master Recordings [Box Set]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

I purchased this set when it first came out, and play it about every three years or so. Every positive thing your reviewers say is true about the content. The problem is that there must have been something very wrong with quality control at RCA. Each time I take these CD's out, unlike any other CD I have in my collection, I find that all by themselves, the CD's have become very dirty and unplayable. I am forced to clean off a mysterious film which appears on each CD and makes it almost opaque. My CD players will not read through this mysterious film. After having the set for only a year, I was forced to send one of the CD's back when this problem made it unplayable. I wish I had sent the entire set back to RCA. I only wish there was something that could be done now. Each time I take the set out to play it, I have the anxiety that the CD's will not be in playable condition. I have about 2000 other CD's and this has never happened with any of them. What gives?

This set is definitely first class all the way. The Caruso voice was one of a kind. Not until Mario Lanza would some of these selections like "Vesti la Giubba", "Come un bel di di Maggio", "Un di all Azzuro Spazio", and "Che Gelida Manina" be equaled or surpassed. Many of these recordings are the watermark by which all subsequent recordings of these songs and arias are judged. The Caruso voice is powerful, dramatic, and yet mellow at the same time. In regards to the problem the [with] this set developing a mysterious film on these CD's, my original set had [this] problem. These CD's were originally released on the RCA Red Label and the CD's were painted a redish color on top, to simulate the appearance of the old 78 RPM records, (BMG must have had some sort of known problem with this process, because they ceased to make the CD with the red finish). I took my set in and exchanged it for an entirely new set about seven years ago, this time released on the Gold Label, minus the red finish on the top of the CD (the CD has just the typical "chrome" finish with some black lettering). I have not had a single problem with my "new" set since and have been happily listening to this priceless set for seven years now, and quite frequently I might add. This set is an extremely prized possession. No opera collector's set should be without this one. RCA/BMG should be commended quite highly for their efforts on this collection. The appearance is very professional and the sound reproduction is first class all the way, especially for recordings produced from about 1900 to 1921. This compilation is a textbook exhibition in first class great singing. You must own this one!

I think this is a priceless set and I was very happy when I finally bought it.However I noticed just one omission.I could not find the 1913 recording of " Deh!non parlare al misero" which originally appeared on Victor 89058.It is an aria from "Rigoletto",act 1,scene 2.G.Farrar is dueting with Caruso.

THIS IS MUST HAVE FOR ANYONE WHO CHERISHES TRULY GREAT SINGING. AFTER LISTENING TO THIS SET YOU WILL TRULY SEE WHY CARUSO IS CONSIDERED THE GREATEST SINGER (NOT JUST TENOR) OF ALL TIME. EVEN THE GREAT PAVAROTTI HAS SAID THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANOTHER VOICE LIKE CARUSO'S (INCLUDING HIS OWN).

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.

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.

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.

The music not only shows the vitality of Caruso (despite the 'rustic hissing' of the recordings), but shows how the process of aging changed his singing from being young and vibrant to that of tiredness and strain in a few short years This collection is a must for every opera/tenor buff.