Fri, 7 June 2013
An all-star cast in Boito's Mefistofele under Lamberto Gardelli. Renata Tebaldi, Carlo Bergonzi, and Nicolai Ghiaurov make this a marvelous performance. (73 min.) |
Fri, 7 June 2013
A veritable LESSON in singing by the legendary Carlo Bergonzi, the Nemorino on this 1967 Elisir under Gianandrea Gavazzeni. In addition, Renata Scotto, Giuseppe Taddei, and Ivo Vinco perform magnificently and show what proper Italianate style is all about . (73 min.) |
Thu, 6 June 2013
Under the legendary Bruno Walter, here are scenes from a most exciting "Forza del Destino" featuring Stella Roman, Ezio Pinza, Lawrence Tibbett, Frederick Jagel, and Salvatore Baccaloni. We were most fortunate that during World War Two we were still able to assemble a great cast, lacking some artists unable to come here. It is a wonderful era in opera history, and I think this performance exemplifies the period. (72 min.) |
Thu, 6 June 2013
Countertenor??????? I think his mommy played Tebaldi when she was pregnant. GREAT!!!! Not a countertenor in my view...but a male soprano.....amazing!!!
Category:general
-- posted at: 2:10am EDT
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Thu, 6 June 2013
Highlights from a 1938 Berlin performance of Strauss' "A Night in Venice," featuring the superb Marcel Wittrisch as Caramello and a cast including Karl Schmitt-Walter (Herzog), Carla Spletter (Anna), Rosl Seegers (Ciboletta), and Margarethe Arndt-Ober ( Agricola). The conductor is Heinrich Steiner. (64 min.) |
Tue, 4 June 2013
Teresa Stich-Randall had an illustrious career, and I am sure she did some fine singing, but these arias from Puritani,Ernani, and Traviata always were part of what we called a "party tape." I guess it is the lack of vibrato that drives us to hysteria...but you figure it out. i just do not understand it. (25 min.) |
Sat, 1 June 2013
Act three of the Freni/Domingo Fedora, followed by some scenes featuring Ferruccio Tagliavini and Pia Tassinari. This is such beautiful and emotional music. (69 min.) |