The audience reaction to this Philadelphia 1963 Puritani under Richard Bonynge tells the story! This is indeed the kind of bravura singing that thrills you beyond compare. Joan Sutherland and Nicolai Gedda head a cast that also features Justino Diaz, Ernest Blanc, and  Betty Allen. The "Vieni fra queste braccia" duet is in the high key and the attacks on those D's cause pandemonium in the theatre. Enjoy!  (72 min.)

A RAI 1954 recording of highlights from William Tell under Nino Sanzogno. It features the beloved Paolo Silveri, who sent this CD to me. The king of the high notes, Mario Filippeschi is the Arnoldo, with Anna Maria Rovere as Matilda, Nicola Zaccaria as Gessler, Raffaele Arie as Gualtiero,, Margherita Benetti as Jemmy, and Giannella Borelli as Edwige.     (71 min.)

  Here are some scenes from a 2004 Philadelphia Don Carlo with some superb artists.The conductor is Maurizio Barbacini, and the cast is headed by Eduardo Villa, a tenor I have just "discovered," and I hope we see much more of him. The cast also includes Angela Brown, Ewa Podles, Franco Vassallo, and Vitalij Kowaljow. I find that whoever recorded this was sitting a bit closer to the orchestra than I would like, but the voices come through pretty well.  (72 min.)

 Highlights from a Bolshoi 1948 recording of Boris Godunov under Nikolay Golovanov. The famous Mark Reizen is the Boris and the cast features Georgy Nelepp (Dimiitri), Nikhander Khanayev (Shuiski), Maria Maksakova (Marina), Maksim Mikhailov (Pimen), Vassily Lubenzov (Varlaam), and Ivan Koslovsky (The Simpleton.)   (65 min.)

NOTE: Error in the photo.Reizen and not Pirogov is the Boris.

  Licia was born on July 22, but perhaps earlier than 1913. She remains a legend in opera history. I met her a few times and it was like touching history, considering her career. Here she kisses the stage, with great affection, at the old Met closing.

Rossini's rarely heard opera "Zelmira," from San Carlo 1965 under Carlo Franci. The cast is as follows:

   Virginia Zeani (Zelmira), Gastone Limarilli (Antenore), Nicola Tagger (Ilo), Anna Maria Rota (Emma), and Paolo Washington (Polidoro.)   (69 min.)

The Mytilene warriors are mourning the death of Azor. Antenore, with the help of Leucippo, plots to take over the throne of Lesbos by trying to incriminate Zelmira in the deaths of Azor and her father. At first, even Emma, Zelmira's confidante, believes the accusations. Fearing for the safety of her young son, Zelmira reveals to Emma that her father is still alive and asks her to take the child into hiding. Prince Ilo returns to the island. Zelmira is afraid to tell him of the accusations against her or to defend herself. Instead, Prince Ilo hears only Antenore's version of the story. Antenore is crowned King of Lesbos. Leucippo attempts to murder Ilo, but is stopped by Zelmira. Found with the dagger in her hand, Zelmira is now also accused of attempting to murder her husband and is imprisoned.

Act 2

Leucippo intercepts a letter from Zelmira to Ilo in which she tells him that her father is still alive and that the accusations against her are false. He and Antenore temporarily free her from prison and trick her into revealing her father's hiding place. Both father and daughter are recaptured and await their deaths at the hands of the plotters. Meanwhile, Prince Ilo is distraught at what he believes to be the death of Polidoro and the unhappy end to his marriage. Emma appears and tells Prince Ilo the truth about Zelmira. He and his men rescue Zelmira and Polidoro. Zelmira is happily reunited with her husband and child, while both Antenore and Leucippo are led off in chains.^[3]

 Here are three exquisite selections from the new album with songs by Donaudy entitled "Vaghissima Sembianza" on the La Sirena Label. The selections are "Vaghissima Sembianza,"Tempo alfin di muover guerra," and "Oh del mio amato ben."

I am sure you will agree with me that Mme.Blancke-Biggs is one of our finest artists.

Highlights from James Levine's 25th Anniversary Gala in 1996. All selections are announced.

  We all will welcome the maestro as he returns to the Met in Cosi Fan Tutte on Sept.24, 2013.

(68 min.)

The superb baritone,Giuseppe Taddei, appears as Michele in "Il Tabarro." This is from Venice, 1969 under Oliviero de Fabritiis. Angelo Mori is Luigi, Jolanda Michieli sings Giorgetta, and Anna Di Stasio is La Frugola.

    This is followed by some scenes from Gianni Schicchi with Taddei, Adriana Martino (Lauretta), Luciano Saldari (Rinuccio), and Mafalda Masini (Zita.)     (69 min.)

 From Philadelphia in 1963 under Carlo Moresco, here is an exciting Tosca, despite a somewhat distant sound. The cast includes Ferruccio Tagliavini and in a baritone role toward the end of his career, the famous Ramon Vinay. (70 min.)