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The Man of a Thousand Voices: The Mystery of Carlos Francisco

 The Man of a Thousand Voices: The Mystery of Carlos Francisco

In our latest restoration at The Rescued Gramophone, we feature a 1900 recording of Verdi’s "Di Provenza." But who was the baritone listed on the label?

The pseudonym Carlos Francisco actually hid the great Emilio de Gogorza. In the early days of the recording industry, artists often used different names to record for various labels or to experiment with new repertoires without affecting their primary reputation.

Gogorza was not only a prodigious voice but a visionary who helped the Victor Talking Machine Company recruit top-tier stars. His interpretation of Verdi is a testament to the "Bel Canto" technique, which managed to pierce through the surface noise of early 7-inch acoustic discs.

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