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Re: The First Complete Opera Recording? Posted by Ralph Moore on December 4, 2024, 5:53 pm, in reply to "The First Complete Opera Recording?" Several things about the voices here are so noticeable: first, how open, developed and properly registered they are, with no throatiness or constriction; secondly, and allied to that, how frequently Josefina Huguet, despite being a lyric coloratura soprano, plunges fully into her lower register - no wonder she could sing Wagner as well as the Queen of the Night - and, thirdly, how rapid are their vibratos; no wobble or slow pulse or sliding - superb. (Incidentally, collectors may know the Silvio here better as Don Pasquale in the 1932 complete recording also conducted by Sabajno, by which time Badini had moved into being a buffo basso - but still neat and light of voice - see my Donizetti survey. In his day, too, the tenor Antonio Paoli was more famous than Caruso.) Previous Message Paul Howard of YouTube's Private Reserve channel thinks it's "I Pagliacci", recorded at La Scala in 1907. The performance was supervised by the composer. The vocals come through beautifully, IMO. Ruggiero Leoncavallo "I Pagliacci" Canio, Antonio Paoli Tonio, Francesco Cigada Nedda, Josefina Huguet Beppe, Gaetano Pini-Corsi Silvio, Ernesto Badini Un contadino, Giuseppe Rosci Carlo Sabajno, Conductor Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala Giuseppe Cairati, Chorusmaster

Re: The First Complete Opera Recording? Posted by Ignatius on December 18, 2024, 5:36 pm, in reply to "The First Complete Opera Recording?" Have a look at this link to Marston Records' transfer of the 1907 'Pagliacci' and 'Chatterton', click on the 'Linear Notes' and 'Note from Ward Marston' for some very interesting info. Maybe Leoncavallo conducted some of the sides? Or all of them? If only we had more information on this gramophone classic. https://www.marstonrecords.com/products/leoncavallo Previous Message Paul Howard of YouTube's Private Reserve channel thinks it's "I Pagliacci", recorded at La Scala in 1907. The performance was supervised by the composer. The vocals come through beautifully, IMO. Ruggiero Leoncavallo "I Pagliacci" Canio, Antonio Paoli Tonio, Francesco Cigada Nedda, Josefina Huguet Beppe, Gaetano Pini-Corsi Silvio, Ernesto Badini Un contadino, Giuseppe Rosci Carlo Sabajno, Conductor Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala Giuseppe Cairati, Chorusmaster

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