McCormack Edition, Vol. 7: The Acoustic Recordings (1916-1918)

"This seventh CD of Naxos' very rewarding John McCormack recordings is a mixed bag of marvellous items representing the considerable range of the legendary Irish's tenor art… This disc offers you McCormack in opera-Wagner ("The Prize Song" from The Mastersingers), items from Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann, Balfe (The Bohemian Girl-a favourite opera of Sir Thomas Beecham's), as well as a super arrangement of "The Star Spangled Banner" (McCormack became an American citizen), some Faure and Mehul, as well as a good sprinkling of Irish and some sentimental numbers ("There's a Long, Long Trail a Winding" and "Keep the Home Fires Burning"). We may recognise his supremacy in oratorio from his singing of Allitson's "The Lord is My Light". And who can resist 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"? While some of the arrangements are bit schmaltzy (one of them ennobled by the playing of Fritz Kreisler), that is fine-in moderate doses.

One thing is quite clear from this disc. McCormack always gave his best and had his heart in all that he did. He always said that he only ever sang music that he wanted to sing. And the great thing about these acoustic recordings is that you can really truly appreciate his wonderful voice. Pope Pius XI made him a count in appreciation of his work for Roman Catholic charities. John McCormack was a true aristocrat of song."
--Review by Robert Giddings, Tribune, December 11, 2008