Had I not discovered Zinka Milanov when I was in college, I know my average would have been higher, but I cannot say I have regrets as to what opera has given me since 1953. Then, I had this fantasy about what would happen if I were born maybe 30 years earlier and saw the kind of seasons that the Met Annals reveal. I would be a triple Lois Kirschenbaum, never stay home, and probably end up dropping out of college..well,no,of course not..because it would probably go like this:
"I saw Caruso and Ponselle last week;i need not go again!!." It was much like this in 1954 because now I say things like, "I should have seen Steber, De los Angeles, etc. more," but naturally one must put things in some perspective. Just to think of a little Charlie around 1918, a typical week might go like this.(From the 1917-1918 annals.)
11/12/17 Aida Muzio,Caruso, Matzenauer, Amato, Mardones
11/13 (In BROOKLYN) Tosca Farrar, Althouse (taught Tucker),Scotti
11/14 Boris Didur, Rothier, De Segurola, Matzenauer, Althouse
11/15 Elisir Hempel,Caruso, Scotti, Didur
11/16 Boheme Alda, McCormack, De Luca, Didur
11/17 Faust Farrar, Martinelli, Rothier (Mat.)
11/17 (Eve.) Traviata Hempel, De Luca, Carpi (who???)
So you see, this is IMPOSSIBLE to process, and the era was just so replete with sensational stars, and maybe a few who at that time may have not been Caruso or Ponselle, but in the cast each night usually there was at least one great star, and probably more, as you see above.
I guess it is all right I was born later, because I would have never been a teacher, and I propably cud not spel propally anymorre.
Now you see why people say, "Get over it,Charlie...They're DEAD!!!"
