everybody wants to take a bow
Some of the starry roster for the Rudolf Bing Farewell Gala accept the plaudits cher public. Ah, 1972, when opera and hair were at their respective peaks of style! Introducing the cavalcade of curtain calls is La Cieca’s role model Risë Stevens.
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If I were just that much (a lot much) older and could have been there!
Many thanks for the tip, kashania. I hadn’t thought of the miraculous Met database.
I’d thought that maybe Paul and Ruggero were presenting a rarely performed transposed version of ‘Mira, o Norma’ ..
Now THAT I’d like to hear!
If I were just that much (a lot much) older, I would be old enough to have forgotten watching it on television. It was one long evening. (I do remember Arroyo’s little squawk at the end of her Trovatore aria.)
I think it’s interesting that nearly everybody is fairly slim and good looking. Weird that this is thought of as a Gelb-era phenomenon.
I’m still miffed at the Video and Audio police that are keeping legit, high-quality editions of this famous Gala from being released to the public. The one-disc highlights on DG was supposed to be only the start of the entire Gala on vinyl – it never materialized. NHK/Japanese TV has the entire gala in its video archives somewhere. So many of these stars have since passed on or retired – what’s the hold up?
P.S., thanks, kashania, for telling where to find the Met Database. It used to be in a bulky two volume set that is now hopelessly out of date. Guess I can finally pitch . . . oh wait, the terrific photos of performers and productions of the past . . . never mind!
Good point. Cocky. They know how to move, too, and none of them are engaging in the kind of mugging we get from some of today’s stars. Dignity, dignity, always dignity!
Everytime you think she’s topped out, Bumbry once again shorts out the Glamometer.
Ah, those were the days !!!
And also singing that night were Sutherland, Pavarotti, Corelli, Milnes, Peters, Domingo, Caballe and Leontyne Price !!!