While they seemed made for each other as stage partners, Montserrat Caballé and Luciano Pavarotti sang relatively few performances together. In addition to a single La bohème at the Met, the six-pack of Toscas which would mark Caballè’s farewell to the company, and the odd Ballo and Luisa Miller, in 1977, when both were delving into heavier repertoire, they made their role debuts in now-legendary performances of Turandot with the San Francisco Opera.
They were in good company: Liù was sung by the exciting newcomer Leona Mitchell, who had just turned 29; Timur was the beloved veteran Giorgio Tozzi at the end of his operatic career before turning to Broadway; one of three maids was sung by the yet-to-be-discovered Carol Vaness, who made her professional debut that year; on the podium was the dynamic Riccardo Chailly, younger than any of them at 24.
Caballé would sing the title role in only one more production, in Paris. Pavarotti and his soccer buddies went on to make “Nessun dorma” a number one single and favorite of pop stars such as Aretha Franklin and Michael Bolton, and remains a frequent selection on televised amateur singing contests.
Giacomo Puccini: Turandot
San Francisco Opera
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
War Memorial Opera House
04 November 1977
Turandot – Montserrat Caballé
Calaf – Luciano Pavarotti
Liù – Leona Mitchell
Timur – Giorgio Tozzi
Ping – Dale Duesing
Pang – Rémy Corazza
Pong – Joseph Frank
L’imperatore Altoum – Raymond Manton
Un mandarino – Aldo Bramante
Il prinicipe di Persia – Robert Johnson
Le ancelle di Turandot – Carol Vaness, Gwendolyn Jones, Pamela South
