More than a century ago this fragment of a live performance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York was captured on cylinder by Met librarian Lionel Mapleson. When transferred to 78 rpm disc nearly four decades later, it was thought to have been Nellie Melba during a March 11, 1901 appearance in Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots, though later research pointed to another date, January 3, 1902, and another soprano, Suzanne Adams, like Melba a pupil of Mathilde Marchesi. To this day the dispute -- it would not be incorrect to describe it as a raging battle -- continues over the identity of the singer (and it is often not pretty).
ITEM: (FAIR WARNING I) This is NOT a digitally filtered transfer!
ITEM: (FAIR WARNING II) Be prepared to duck if / when disagreeing with Melba fans!
