Enrico Caruso: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3

Antonio Scotti (Performer), Mario Ancona (Performer), Francesco Daddi (Performer), Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Richard Barthelemy (Composer), Paolo Tosti (Composer), Giacomo Meyerbeer (Composer), Umberto Giordano (Composer), Ruggero Leoncavallo (Composer), Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Georges Bizet (Composer), Gaetano Donizetti (Composer), Walter B. Rogers (Conductor), Louise Homer (Performer), Gina Severina (Performer), Bessie Abott (Performer), Nellie Melba (Performer), Marcella Sembrich (Performer), Geraldine Farrar (Performer), Enrico Caruso (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Antonio Scotti, Mario Ancona, Francesco Daddi, Louise Homer, Gina Severina, et al.
• Conductor: Walter B. Rogers
• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Barthelemy, Paolo Tosti, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Umberto Giordano, et al.
• Audio CD (July 17, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B00004YYQN
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,005 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Aida: Celeste Aida

2. La Forza Del Destino: Solenne In Quest' Ora

3. Triste Ritorno

4. Ideale

5. L'Africana: O Paradiso

6. Rigoletto: Bella Figlia Dell'Amore - Louise Homer

7. Andrea Chenier: Un Di All'Azzurro Spazio

8. Pagliacci: Vesti La Giubba

9. La Boheme: O Mimi, Tu Piu Non Torni

10. The Pearl Fishers: Del Tempio Al Limita

11. La Boheme: O Soave Fanciulla Nellie Melba

12. Don Sebastiano: Deserto In Terra

13. Don Sebastiano: Deserto In Terra

14. Adorables Tourments

15. Rigoletto: Bella Figlia Dell'Amore

16. Lucia Di Lammermoor: Chi Mi Frena In Tal Momento?

17. Madama Butterfly: Quanti Occhi Fisi

18. La Boheme: Ackho, Dolce Svegliare Alla Mattina

19. Rigoletto: Bella Figlia Dell'Amore - Louise Homer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The tenor who started it all., May 18, 2002

By 

John Austin "[e-mail]" (Kangaroo Ground, Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Enrico Caruso: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Audio CD)

"Fee exorbitant, forbid you to record."

This was the reply to a telegram sent by Fred Gaisberg, a young American recording agent, who chanced to be in Italy in 1902 and had heard a young tenor named Enrico Caruso sing, and who cabled for permission to spend an afternoon recording him at the fee Caruso named.

Many believe that Gaisberg's disobedience marked the true birth of the whole recording industry.

A century later, Caruso's resplendent voice and the complete records he subsequently made can be heard at budget price in a series of Naxos reissues. Volume 3 is a good one to select. The voice is sumptuous - baritonal in timbre but encompassing the high tenor range with apparent ease - and the artistry in, for example, "O paradiso", is exemplary. You will hear two of Caruso's recordings of the "Rigoletto" quartet. You will also hear the only recording he made with Dame Nellie Melba. Although the Australian soprano and the Italian tenor were never personally compatible, their voices blend beautifully, especially at the very end of their "La Boheme" duet.

Ward Marston is in charge of these reissues. They are as good as can be expected, considering the age of the originals, and considerably better than most I have heard. He has worked from mint condition original pressings.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't have to be an Opera Lover to appreciate this, September 4, 2002

By 

J. E. Hallander "ehallander" (Little Silver, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Enrico Caruso: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3 (Audio CD)

If we try to compare someone like Caruso to the greats of today, it cannot be done. There just is no way to extract the full range of tonal quality out of these old recordings. But that withstanding, this does not mean you cannot enjoy some beautiful music. Put the pops out your mind, and just listen to the simple beauty. I cannot listen to these recordings without moisture oozing from my eye sockets. Buy and enjoy!