A new exhibition has just opened at the Music Library entitled Treasures from the Archive of Recorded Sound, on show through August 14. The exhibition was curated and installed by the Archive of Recorded Sound's Interim Operations Manager, Benjamin Bates, who describes the content and theme of the exhibit in more detail. 

"The new exhibition at Stanford Music Library features a selection of rare and lesser known sound recordings held by the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, with accompanying autographed photographs of the featured artist for each recording, selected from the Archive's photographic collection. The exhibit has been created in part to celebrate Stanford University’s 2014 Reactions to the Record Symposium (April 3rd-5th), as well as highlighting artists from the early era of sound recording. In an effort to make these artifacts more accessible, selected displays include QR codes that allow visitors to connect to streaming audio and collection finding aids by scanning these codes with their smartphone or tablet device. 

Featured artists in the exhibit include the Wagnerian soprano Kirsten Flagstad, pianist Leopold Godowski, cellist Raya Garbousova, and conductor Bruno Walter among others. Of special interest to the study of early operatic performance is the performer Nina Morgana, an Italian-American, coloratura soprano who toured with Enrico Caruso between 1917 and 1919. A rare test pressing disc of the only known recording made during her career is held at the Archive of Recorded Sound in addition to a 1972 tape interview of her reminiscences performing with Caruso, Beniamino Gigli, and others".

The exhibition is open during the Music Library's regular hours, which can be found on their website.