Caruso singing the bass aria. “Vecchia Zimarra“. La Boheme. Puccini.

Side 1. “Why Caruso recorded the coat song“ by Frances Alda and Wally Butterworth. Side 2. “Vecchia Zimarra“ (The coat song) La Boheme Act 4--Giacosa & Illicia---Puccini. Enrico Caruso. HMV DL 100. February 1916. This is undoubtedly an interesting and historical recording. Caruso was, of course, a tenor but the aria “Vecchia Zimarra“ from the opera La Boheme is for a bass who sings a song of farewell to his old coat. Here is one version (in précis) of how Caruso happened to sing this aria, as told by