Edgar Herbert-Caesari was a renowned voice teacher and published several books on singing, including “The Voice of the Mind” in 1951. This was dedicated to his daughter, the soprano Alma Caesari. She is still alive and living in London, and still teaching. I recently acquired the privately recorded 78 presented below featuring her in duet with Eric Rees.

Donizetti – Don Pasquale – Pronta io son
Alma Caesari, soprano
Eric Rees, baritone
The Modern Symphony Orchestra, Arthur Dennington

A Modern Recording (Modern Recording Co. (Private Recording Studio), Piccadilly Arcade, London)
Matrices MM 138, 139
Recorded c1950

Arthur Dennington and the Modern Symphony Orchestra were apparently well-regarded, particularly in the performance of modern works. They performed works by Alan Bush and Ruth Gipps amongst others. Dennington made commercial recordings, including 4 volumes of overtures by Auber. In the early 1950s he conducted concerto accompaniments for Joyce Hatto.

The first side of this recording is some 4 and three quarter minutes, and the sound quality is very poor at the end of the side.