Luisa Tetrazzini was undoubtedly one of the great coloratura sopranos. This led to her receiving the honour also accorded Caruso of having some of her recordings re-recorded with a new orchestral accompaniment. While Caruso’s electrical recreations have been reissued from time to time, (and the practice repeated again in the last few years) Tetrazzini’s electrical re-recordings have not had great currency.

Thomas – Mignon – Polonaise (Io son Titania)
Luisa Tetrazzini, soprano with Orchestra conducted by Percy Pitt

Thomas – Mignon – Polonaise – Tetrazzini

(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)

Gramophone Monarch 053142
Matrix 2171f
Recorded 20th December 1907, London
Plays in score pitch at 76.8rpm – original record has a lot of wear, so the sound is noisy in places

Delibes – Lakmé – Bell Song (Dov’e l’Indiana bruna)
Luisa Tetrazzini, soprano with Orchestra conducted by Percy Pitt

Delibes – Lakmé – Bell Song – Tetrazzini

(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)

His Master’s Voice 053150
Matrix 2172f
Recorded 20th December 1907, London
Plays in score pitch at 76.8rpm

Gounod – Roméo et Juliette – Waltz
Luisa Tetrazzini, soprano with Orchestra conducted by Percy Pitt

Gounod – Roméo et Juliette – Tetrazzini

(mp3 file – click to play, or right click the link, then select “Save as”)

His Master’s Voice 053195
Matrix 2524f
Recorded 1st July 1908, London
Plays in score pitch at 76.8rpm

Tosti – Aprile
Luisa Tetrazzini, soprano
Percy Pitt, piano

Gramophone Monarch Record 053229
Matrix 3103f (053229-II)
Recorded 2nd June 1909

Rossini – Il Barbiere di Siviglia – Una voce poco fa
Verdi – Rigoletto – Caro nome
Luisa Tetrazzini, soprano
Symphony Orchestra

His Master’s Voice DB 1979
Matrices: 2B5032-I, 2B5033-I (single-side numbers 32-3864, 32-3865)
Recorded c1933
Symphony Orchestra