Search - Emilio de Gogorza, Giuseppe de Luca, Anton y Michelena :: Enrico Caruso: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 11

Caruso, aged 45.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 02/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here is 67 minutes of Caruso, as recorded in 1918 and 1919. The voice is wondrously powerful. Not only is he represented at his best here but colleagues who make a strong impression also join him. The great baritone Giuseppe de Luca, glorious especially in his upper register, features in two duets, including a rarely recorded item from "La Forza del Destino", an opera Caruso had recently added to his repertoire. Luise Homer and Marcel Journet join Caruso in another rarely recorded item, a trio from "Samson et Dalila". Emilio de Gorgoza is the baritone heard in the opening track with Caruso in a duet he recorded ten years later with Tito Schipa. Italians are rarely successful when attempting to sing in English. Although he spent more time in the USA than elsewhere during these years, Caruso's English, as heard in the patriotic song "Over There", is very peculiar. The order to "send the word" is heard as "send da woid". Four great Neapolitan songs conclude this vintage collection."