Future Releases

This two CD set marks the next installment of the historically significant release of unpublished Edison diamond disc masters. Thomas Edison, inventor of the phonograph, began his own recording company in 1898, and for the next 14 years, he released only wax cylinder recordings, while by 1905, most other companies were using the more practical flat disc format. By 1909, the cylinder was a dying medium, and Edison realized that his company needed to compete in the disc market. Consequently, he strove to produce a better-sounding disc than any of his competitors. For over three years, he made disc recordings before publishing any. Over a hundred of these wax disc masters still exist in the Edison archive, unheard by anyone until now. These recordings contain not only some very fine singing, but also, some of the best sound to be heard on acoustic recording. This volume will contain several recordings by the renowned baritone, Giussepe Kaschmann; tenor, Umberto Macnez; contralto, Marie Delna; sopranos Adelina Agostinelli, Celestina Boninsegna, Maria Galvany, and a marvelous duet from Verdi’s Otello with Marie Rappold and Leo Slezak.

Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949) lived during the birth of the “recording era” and he made numerous records in his role as conductor and eight recordings as pianist. However, this compilation concentrates on those singers who interpreted Strauss’s compositions in song. Most of the singers included here not only knew Strauss, but worked with him, and their recordings could be heard and judged by him. These recordings are very important documents because they are arguably the definitive “Strauss.” We can hear Lotte Lehmann, Fredrich Schorr, Hermann Jadlowker, Elisabeth Schumann, Meta Seinemeyer, Loritz Melchior, Marcella Sembrich, Elisabeth Rethberg, Jacques Urlus, and others bring his songs to life. This two CD-set contains recordings primarily from the acoustic era including the earliest known recording of a Strauss song (1901 Berliner sung by Lotte Schloss), with a few important electrical recordings. Fully sponsored by the Estate of Sir Paul Getty