The Record Of Singing 1899-1952

A staggering 10 CD collection that attempts to cover earliest days of gramophone recordings from 1899 to 1952, its classical music stars and artists preserved for posterity in their various singing styles, divisions by different types of schools and background. Apparently this massive volume was first published as 12 LP box back in 1977 but there were some confusions about the right pitch and this has all been corrected now.

This huge, wonderful collection is a true cornucopia overflowing with ancient recordings that go back as far as 1899 and it showcases voices from long gone eras and what was popular back than - right at the start we are treated with the last known recording of true castrato Alessandro Moreschi and contrary to expectations, his voice sounds actually very alien to modern ears (more like old woman's wail than thing of beauty we read about) which has probably more to do with our point of reference than any recording imperfections. For every Moreschi there are dozens of fascinating voices like Adelina Patti, Nellie Melba, Geraldine Farrar or Mary Garden - and gentlemen like Pol Plançon, Edouard de Reszke, Enrico Caruso and Leo Slezak.

Naturally this kind of collection serves not only as a time capsule to a world long gone now (a true time machine) but also as fascinating introduction to some lesser known voices (at least for me) and introduction to dazzling talents of singers like Nikolay Figner and his wife, Dimitri Smirnov (a Russian counterpoint to Beniamino Gigli), Marcel Journet, Elvira De Hidalgo (singing teacher of Callas) and countless of others who worked, lived and breathed during 78 era and were actually loved and celebrated way back.
Naturally it makes one wonder about fleetingness of fame and how much our lives actually leave the mark - on many instances here, these artists have inspired young generations who came after them and who in turn, created something else, completely original on their own. Contrary to accepted belief, I don't find so many of earlier singers superior to what came afterwards - its simply that public taste had changed and new recording techniques pushed the envelope, I am absolutely sure that listeners in 1912 would equally be impressed with amazing vocal feats of Marilyn Horne or Joan Sutherland if they had a chance to hear them.