Episode 61: 1965-1966

James King

The debuts of James King as Florestan, Pilar Lorengar as Donna Elvira, the sudden departure of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, the Leporello of Geraint Evans, the debuts of Teresa Stich Randall as Fiordiligi, Alfredo Kraus as the Duke in Rigoletto, Thomas Stewart as Ford in Falstaff, Birgit Nilsson singing both Elisabeth and Venus in Tannhäuser with the debut of Pekka Nuotio, the debut of Reri grist as Rosina in Il barber di Siviglia, Ramon Vinay’s misguided single appearance as Dr. Bartolo, the debut of Nicolai Ghiaurov in Faust and three conductors making their debuts: Francesco Molinari-Pradelli in Un ball in maschera, Lamberto Gardelli in Andrea Chenier and Zubin Mehta in Aida (Part 2 of 4).
(Recorded 4 July 2012)

Click below to play the episode:

Episode 62: 1965-1966

Eleanor Steber

 

The 1965-1966 season of the Metropolitan Opera was a melancholy one as it would be the final season in the Old House. As told by Alfred Hubay, however, there were many high points and debuts including the return of Eleanor Steber as a last minute replacement in La fanciulla del West, the power outrage over the entire northeast corridor, the Kundry of Régine Crespin as well as the final performance of George London, the debut of Grace Bumbry in Don Carlo, and the debut of Renata Scotto in Madama Butterfly as well as her performances in Lucia di Lammermoor (Part 3 of 4).
(Recorded 4 July 2012)

Click below to play the episode:

Episode 63: 1965-1966

Zinka Milanov

The 1965-1966 season of the Metropolitan Opera was a melancholy one as it would be the final season in the Old House. As told by Alfred Hubay, however, there were many high points and debuts including the unheralded farewell of Licia Albanese, the farewell of Zinka Milanov as Maddalena in Andrea Chenier, the acoustic check of the new house with a performance of La fanciulla del West and the final performance of a complete opera in the old house, La boheme, on April 16, 1966 with Jerome Hines adding a farewell touch of his own as Colline (Part 4 of 4).
(Recorded 4 July 2012)

Click below to play the episode:

Episode 64: 1966 Gala Farewell

On April 16, 1966, a most momentous occasion occurred at the Metropolitan Opera when the company presented a Gala Farewell to the Old House. Soon after the 1965-1966 season opened, the arduous preparations began for this emotional event, as relayed by the company’s House Manager and Box Office Manager, Alfred Hubay. The presence of 33 Honored Guests, whose careers began as far back as 1913, made for difficult logistics. The mood was that of desolation, the house losing its grandeur (Part 1 of 4).
(Recorded 20 July 2012)

Click below to play the episode: