Episode 33: 1956-1957

Maria Callas

The 1956-1957 season was a memorable season for Alfred Hubay, now the Assistant to the Chief Usher for the Metropolitan Opera. The most momentous occasion was the opening night debut of Maria Meneghini Calls as Norma. In this episode, Alfred Hubay talks about the days leading up to and through the debut, the second performance and appearances in Lucia di Lammermoor with Enzo Sordello and later being replaced by Dolores Wilson. (Part 1 of 3).
(Recorded 19 November 2011)

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Episode 34: 1956-1957

Mario del Monaco

Alfred Hubay, now in his fourteenth season with the Metropolitan Opera, talks about a new production of Ernani with Mario del Monaco, Leonard Warren, Cesare Siepi and Zinka Milanov, a new production of La traviata directed by Tyrone Guthrie with Renata Tebaldi, Giuseppe Campora and Leonard Warren, a new production of La perichole directed by Cyril Ritchard with Patrice Munsel and Theodor Uppman and a return of Arabella with Lisa della Casa, Hilde Güden and George London. (Part 2 of 3).
(Recorded 19 November 2011)

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Episode 35: 1956-1957

Wolfgang Windgassen

Alfred Hubay, now in his fourteenth season with the Metropolitan Opera, talks about a “hodge-podge” Ring cycle with the debut of Wolfgang Windgassen in Die Walküree, the debut of Martha Mödl as Brünnhilde in Siegfried, the debuts of Antonietta Stella and Carlo Bergonzi in Aida, the debut of Mattiwilda Dobbs in Rigoletto, the return of Les contes d’Hoffmann with George London, Tosca with Giuseppe di Stefano and a return of Samson et Dalilah, led by Pierre Monteux with Ramon Vinay and Rise Stevens. (Part 3 of 3).
(Recorded 19 November 2011)

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Episode 36: 1957-1958

Lucine Amara

In this episode, Alfred Hubay talks about the 1957-1958 season of the Metropolitan Opera including the opening night English language new production of Eugene Onegin with George London, Lucine Amara and Richard Tucker, a new production of Don Giovanni, the debuts of Ezio Flagello and Nicolai Gedda and the world premiere of Samuel Barber’s Vanessa with Eleanor Steber, Rosalind Elias, Nicolai Gedda, Regina Resnik and Giorgio Tozz.i (Part 1 of 2).
(Recorded 26 January 2012)

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