Meme chanson, meme refrain
La Cieca is indebted to those Wellsungs for this idea:Â what’s your birth opera? Or, in other words, which opera (and cast, if applicable) was the Met performing on the day you were born? (You get this information, of course, from the Met Archives Database.)
Unfortunately, La Cieca, being a Leo, was born outside the regular Met season. So, for the purposes of this meme, she’ll look to the the Salzburg Festival for her birth opera:
Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni: Cesare Siepi; Donna Anna: Elisabeth Grümmer; Don Ottavio: Anton Dermota; Donna Elvira: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf; Leoporello: Otto Edelmann; Il Commendatore: Dezsö Ernster; Masetto: Walter Berry; Zerlina: Erna Berger. Wilhelm Furtwängler; Wiener Philharmoniker.)
 What’s your birth opera?
Well, here’s the fourth Tristan. Since I became a committed Wagnerite at thriteen, this is pretty awesome. Ramon Vinay as Tristan; Birgit Nilsson as Isolde, Irene Dalis as Brangane, and Jerome Hines as King Marke. Probably blah conducting from Joseph Rosenstock. I would much rather have had Solti (I know that’s a minority opinion…)
I’m an Elektra – 8.7.57 Salzburg
Inge Bork, Lisa della Casa, Jean Madiera, Max Lorenz, Kurt Boehme, Alois Pernestorfer, and Marilyn Horne as 4. Magd. Conducted by Mitropoulos. I’ve listened to this performance for years and had no idea it was from my birthday (Presuming that the first performance was the one that was recorded). I’m a huge Wagner/Strauss fan and these artists are among my favorites, it’s especially nice to have Horne included in this group. Thanks for the idea of having a birth opera, I would have never thought to research this topic.
And Grace Ann – it was SOMEmezzo who said that, I am SugarMezzo. Different people.
November 24, 1972
DIE WALKÃœRE {412}
Wagner-Wagner
Brünnhilde…………..Birgit Nilsson
Siegmund…………….Jon Vickers
Sieglinde……………Gwyneth Jones [Debut]
Wotan……………….Theo Adam
Fricka………………Mignon Dunn
Hunding……………..John Macurdy
Gerhilde…………….Judith De Paul
Grimgerde……………Joann Grillo
Helmwige…………….Jeannine Altmeyer
Ortlinde…………….Christine Weidinger [Debut]
Rossweisse…………..Jean Kraft
Schwertleite…………Batyah Godfrey Ben-David
Siegrune…………….Marcia Baldwin
Waltraute……………Doris Hollenbach [Debut]
Conductor……………Erich Leinsdorf
Director…………….Herbert Von Karajan
Stage Director……….Wolfgang Weber
Set designer…………Günther Schneider-Siemssen
Costume designer……..George Wakhevitch
Not too shabby!!
Metropolitan Opera House
November 23, 1970
TOSCA {536}
Tosca……………….Elinor Ross
Cavaradossi………….Carlo Bergonzi
Scarpia……………..Cornell MacNeil
Sacristan……………Paul Plishka
Spoletta…………….Paul Franke
Angelotti……………Clifford Harvuot
Sciarrone……………Russell Christopher
Shepherd…………….Gerard Harrington [Debut]
Jailer………………Andrij Dobriansky
Conductor……………Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
This opera was a surprise, although it makes sense, as my father emigrated from Vienna.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1929
Der Rosenkavalier (47)
Maria Jeritza, Florence Easton, Queena Mario.
I haven’t a clue how to import the entire cast.
And Grace Ann – it was SOMEmezzo who said that, I am SugarMezzo. Different people.
Mes excuses! As a leading soprano, I have always attempted to be kind to ( and distinguish among) the “little people” who play my maids and confidantes!
Hello il_guarany (reply #106). So do you listen to music on your Palm? Do the libretti you download have English translations? From where do you download them? Many thanks, MC.
LA TRAVIATA
Giuseppe Verdi–Francesco Maria Piave
Violetta…………….Gabriella Tucci
Alfredo……………..Barry Morell
Germont……………..Mario Sereni
Flora……………….Janis Martin
Gastone……………..Gabor Carelli
Baron Douphol………..Roald Reitan
Marquis D’Obigny……..Louis Sgarro
Dr. Grenvil………….John Macurdy
Annina………………Mary Ellen Pracht
Giuseppe…………….Charles Kuestner
Gardener…………….Peter Sliker
Conductor……………Fausto Cleva
The display is white (or gray) on purple for me. Very easy on the eyes.
I saw Pilou do Manon (Massenet) and Mélisande in Vienna, and thought she was excellent in both.