For this week’s blast from the past, Jungfer Marianne Leizmetzerin has unearthed an in-house tape featuring Met newbies Plácido Domingo and Montserrat Caballé singing Un ballo in maschera in 1970!

Giuseppe Verdi: UN BALLO IN MASCHERA
Metropolitan Opera
Francesco Molinari-Pradelli, conductor
02 October 1970

Riccardo – Plácido Domingo
Amelia – Montserrat Caballé
Renato – Robert Merrill
Ulrica – Ruza Baldani
Oscar – Reri Grist
Samuel – Paul Plishka
Tom – Andrij Dobriansky
Silvano – Raymond Gibbs
Judge – Paul Franke
Servant – Gabor Carelli

La Cieca

James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.

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