metplayer listening orgy, day two
Following is the schedule for the Sunday afternoon/evening listening/viewing marathon. Chat away in the comments section, cher public!
Noon: Tosca (Broadcast January 7, 1956).
2:30 pm: Don Carlo (Broadcast March 7, 1964).
5:30 pm: Die Walküre (Broadcast December 2, 1944).
9:00 pm: Otello (Telecast September 25, 1978).
La Cieca’s Amazon Deal of the Day: Puccini – The Great Opera Collection
I find it interesting to compare Tebaldi’s Met broadcast of Tosca with the studio recording she made (I believe) just a year earlier with MdM and London. She is in great voice both but the differences are huge — the studio recording is easily one of the most beautifully sung Toscas on record but mostly lacking in fire. One doesn’t get the sense that she has suffered at all in the second act. In comparison, the live Met performance is full of fire and passion, while still beautifully sung.
Kashania:
I agree. The difference between Renata in the studio and Renata live is much greater than, for instance, with Callas. I never really “got” Tebaldi until I started listening to the pirates; now, just one or two notes makes me tear up!
I never got Tebaldi either until I heard the live Giovanna D’Arco from the mid 50s.
Sanford, it was the same performance that did it for me.
Well, not long after that she seemed to lose the very top. I also have to admit that I haven’t listened to all that much of her, but I remember not liking the Gioconda very much, so I guess I have to revisit her.
Since the glory days of Victorias Elliott and Sladen, the only true Tosca of stature has been Phyllis Cannan, though Collier and Milla Andrew gave it a proper ‘go’.
Vicar, there’s actually now an excellent ‘Commonwealth’ Tosca in Amanda Echalaz. Born in South Africa, trained in the UK and on an upward trajectory. (That has nothing to do with the leap from the Castel Sant’Angelo.) I saw her Tosca a few weeks ago and it was really thrilling. Maybe not the most individual sound in the world, but big, clean, true and capable of great subtlety too. She even looks good.