Search - Noel Coward, Marcel Delannoy, H. de Fontenailles :: Prima Voce Party

A Party Like No Other!

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 02/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Collectors of voices from the past probably know already about Nimbus Records and their method of transferring old recordings. What we hear is a recording made of a high quality gramophone on which 78s are being played. The cleanest and most perfect 78 copies are used. Fibre needles are used. The result is a sound more reduced in top and bottom than can be heard in more regular transfer processes, but one to which the ear soon becomes accustomed. For those keen to sample this phenomenon, this "Prima Voce Party" makes a good start. We are to imagine that a whole gaggle of singers of the past, from Caruso and Melba to Paul Robeson, are enjoying a party and hearing one another's party tricks. Some choose novelty items (Hugues Cuenod, Sigrid Onegin), Elisabeth Schumann does her bird warbling trick, and Richard Tauber somehow contrives to sing a duet with himself. Their original recordings are, of course, heard complete, and a decent pause of 15 seconds elapses between each of them. There are 21 tracks in all, totalling 71 minutes, there are plenty of photographs, and there is a pseudo description of the "party" and the behaviour of the guests provided by the host - one Sir Neville Lushington. An extra inducement is the fact that many of the items included are extremely rare."

A Wonderful Party

Rob Pollock | 03/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are many wonderful plums to be enjoyed in this rich party pudding. Certainly among the most extraordinary is the strangely beautiful offering from Hugues Cuenod of three distinct voices - tenor, countertenor and baritone - in his singing of the spiritual My Lord, What A Morning.



Copies of this CD are on offer from several sellers at some very low asking prices. It would be wise to buy now, before the CD becomes a rarity. It is now an inexpensive way to sample many remarkable voices, some heard here in unusual repertoire.



Very highly recommended."

Wish I was Fly on the Wall that evening!

Sasha | at sea...sailing somewhere | 07/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the most wonderful compilations in "Prima Voce" catalogue,this disc is pure fun.Instead of focusing on usual heavy-weight composers,this time around we have stars of yesterday singing less serious repertoire (still very sophisticated by todays standards).Apparently,Lord Bloomsbury had them all invited for birthday celebration in his London house and as he was famous artistic patron,that evening under one roof dined celebrities like Melba,Caruso,Gigli,Paul Robeson and Noel Coward (wish I was fly on the wall!).Specially for him,their entertained each other with waltzes,folk songs,popular songs,musical theatre hits,spirituals and even children's songs - Elisabeth Schumann whistled like a nightingale in operetta song (much loved by russian tsar Nicholas and his wife,I read in their biography),Tauber duetted with himself and even formidable Melba waltzed coquettishly,while russian bass Alexander Kipnis joyfully sang children's song "Little Jack Horner".Lord Bloomsbury had only one regret:"If only I could have it all recorded!"

"Prima Voce" reseachers actually DID compiled all these performances,as stars had them recorded here-and-there during 1920s and 1930s and now we can listen and enjoy.When today's critics wrinkle their noses at classical singers singing " popular songs" (Kiri,Norman,Domingo,Alagna,Von Otter...list is too long to mention) this is a good reminder that it was always done before and there is nothing new under the sun.Special recommendation: Joseph Schmidt (who perished in WW2) whose Strauss waltz can compare with anything by Tauber."