For your Wednesday listening enjoyment, here’s a BBC broadcast of the Gala Farewell to Sir David Webster (pictured, left) at the Royal Opera House on July 9, 1970. Highlights include a complete Lucia Mad Scene with Joan Sutherland and an early Gwyneth Jones essay of the “Liebestod.”  

Farewell Gala for Sir David Webster
Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House
Introduced by Ian Wallace
July 9, 1970

Fanfare composed for the occasion by Benjamin Britten

Pagliacci: Prologue
Peter Glossop
Conductor: Edward Downes

Otello: Scenes from Act 1
Desdemona: Gwyneth Jones
Otello: James McCracken
Cassio: John Lanigan
Roderigo: John Dobson
Iago: Tito Gobbi
Montano: George MacPherson
Conductor: Georg Solti

Lucia di Lammermoor: Mad Scene
Lucia: Joan Sutherland
Enrico: Delme Bryn-Jones
Raimondo: Joseph Rouleau
Conductor: Richard Bonynge

La clemenza di Tito: “Deh, per questo istante”
Yvonne Minton
Conductor: Colin Davis

Tristan und Isolde: “Liebestod”
Gwyneth Jones
Conductor: Georg Solti

Falstaff:  Act 2: “Reverenza”; Act 3: Finale
Mistress Quickly: Regina Resnik
Bardolph: David Lennox
Falstaff: Geraint Evans
Pistol: Michael Langdon
Nanetta: Elizabeth Robson
Alice: Elizabeth Vaughan
Meg Page: Yvonne Minton
Fenton: Ryland Davies
Dr Caius: Kenneth MacDonald
Ford: Delme Bryn-Jones
Conductor: Georg Solti

Speech by Lord Drogheda
Speech by Sir David Webster

Special thanks to Friend of the Box Donald Collup!

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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