Agreed.
They probably sound a bit like this:
Live recording from 1903
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIB0XXEKYgk
Mapleson Cylinders: Tosca “LIVE”: Eames, de Marchi, Scotti, etc. (1903)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTJv5qC62Bg
I am actually looking for one that was restored using the laser they are talking about in the article.