You know, if this was a cowboy movie, I'd give you my boots

Where were you in 1975? Gerald Ford was settling into the White House, gasoline prices were on the rise, Steve Wozniak was busy inventing the Apple computer, and, as always, opera queens (not pictured) were arguing.

Could Met debutante Beverly Sills still deliver the goods in L’assedio di Corinto? Would Plácido Domingo go through with attempting Otello? Was is really true that newcomers Katia Ricciarelli and José Carreras were more than good friends? (They were, after all, reportedly seen sharing a booth at the Howard Johnson’s on Broadway and 61st Street!)

Meanwhile, over in London, Claudio Abbado gathered up the future Moor and one of his future Desdemonas and paired them with that rare visitor to the U.S.A. Piero Cappuccilli for a pretty unforgettable Un ballo in maschera, tossing in Reri Grist for good measure.

Back in New York, the Met also presented Ballo… with Barry Morell and Klara Barlow.

Giuseppe Verdi: Un ballo in maschera

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Claudio Abbado
08 February 1975

Riccardo – Plácido Domingo
Amelia – Katia Ricciarelli
Renato – Piero Cappucilli
Oscar – Reri Grist
Ulrica – Elizabeth Bainbridge
Samuel – Gwynne Howell
Tom – Paul Hudson
Silvano – William Elvin
Un giudici – Francis Egerton
Un servo – John Carr