Enrico Caruso and how the introduction of the LP reduced sound quality

Quizzing an older acquaintance about his musical tastes revealed him as, in his own words, a victim of “Golden Age Syndrome”.

Not only were his musical preferences all opera-based, but they were also restricted to recordings on 78 rpm discs. He asserts that the replacement of 78s by 33 1/3 LP records (never mind CDs or MP3s!) led to a reduction in sound quality.

So his favourite musicians are all, er, historic – many died before I was born:

Top tenors:
1. Caruso
2. Bjorling
3. Gigli
4. Di Stefano

Top sopranos:
1. Rosa Ponselle
2. Louise Tetrazini
3. Eva Turner
4. Callas
5. Renata Tebaldi
6. Elizabeth Schwarzkopf

Having previously avoided “historic recordings” – some of this stuff is over 100 years old! – I gave it a go, and started working through the lists.

Know what? He’s dead right. Caruso and Ponselle, for starters, are from a Golden Age: magnificent musicians. Grown-ups are advised to sample them.


Gerry Smith