The present volume is the ninth in a series devoted to Beniamino Gigli’s ‘singles’ – his song and aria recordings not issued as part of complete opera sets. The aim of the series is to include every Gigli recording released at the time, as well as every published alternative take and, wherever available, unpublished takes. The sides here are presented in the order in which they were recorded. This ninth volume is particularly fascinating for its variety of repertoire. The quasi-religious pieces by Bach-Gounod, Bizet, and César Franck are sung with a rich and fervent tone. Die Lotusblume is a rare example of Gigli singing Lieder. His interpretation of Federico’s lament over his lost love from L’arlesiana is one of Gigli’s very best discs, the haunting beauty of tone that he brought to tragic utterances very much in evidence. Finally, there are the Italian songs with which Gigli so delighted his audiences throughout his career and for which he had a natural aptitude.