The Century’s Greatest Singers in Puccini (Recordings From 1907-1935) featuring Mattia Battistini, Lucrezia Bori, Enrico Caruso, Beniamino Gigli, Edith Mason, Nellie Melba, Claudia Muzio, John McCormick, Aureliano Pertile, Titta Ruffo, Tito Schipa and Margaret Sheridan [Romophone 86001-2]

This first release in Romphone’s new “Masters’ Voice” series is a splendid compilation of arias and duets from Puccini’s most popular operas. The seven selections from “La Boheme” begin with the velvety beauty of John McCormick’s tenor in “Che gelida manina.” Next we have Melba’s lucid artistry in “Si mi chiamano Mimi.” The Australian soprano is joined by the “King of Tenors”, Enrico Caruso, in a heartfelt, stirring rendition of “O soave fanciulla.” Then Lucrezia Bori’s plaintive style is featured in “Quando m’en vo”, here painted with an exceptional pathos and wistfulness. Galvanizing vocal power blends with sweet pathos when Tito Ruffo sings with Beniamino Gigli in “O Mimi, tu piu non torni.” This is followed by Bori’s touching “Sono andati” with the unique Tito Schipa.

Claudia Muzio is fervent of detail in “Senza mamma” from “Suor Angelica” and “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicci.

Among the five excerpts from Tosca, three arias spotlight Beniamino Gigli’s honeyed mezza voce: “Recondita armonia”, “E lucevan le stelle” and “O dolci mani”. “Tre sbirri, una carrozza is suavely performed by Mattia Battistini. The liquid fire of Claudia Muzio flares memorably in “Vissi d’arte.”

Gigli is featured again in “Donna non vidi mai” from Manon Lescaut. Margaret Sheridan and Aureliano Pertile are soaring, impassioned and visceral in the ravishing “Tu! Tu! Amore” from the same opera.

The program rounds off with three highlights from Madama Butterfly. Edith Mason’s lyric instrument shimmers in Butterfly’s entrance, “Ancora un passo.” Sheridan and Pertile join forces again in the “Love Duet.” The collection wraps up with Bori’s plangent, sincere “Un bel di”.

As always, Romophone upholds its high standards of audio restoration and scrupulous attention to playback speed and surface noise. Included is a beautifully illustrated catalog booklet featuring noted journalist Rob Cowan’s informative notes about Romophone. This immaculately produced CD makes a great introduction to the Golden Age of Singing and Romphone’s treasury of historical recordings.
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