"Opera has become like instant soup"

“People who should be singing in church choirs are singing major roles. In some ways, success is harder to deal with than not being successful. A Verdi soprano? Grab her! Opera has become like instant soup; just add boiling water and people think it’s there.” — June Anderson, 1990.

On this night in 1924 Tullio Serafin made his Met debut conducting Aida.