Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Act 4
Adriana Lecouvreur: Renata Scotto Il Principe di Bouillon: James Courtney La Principessa: Elena Obraztsova L’Abate: Joseph Frank Maiordomo: Winther Andersen Maurizio: Giacomo Aragall Michonnet: Giuseppe Taddei Mme. Dangeville: Mildred Tyree Mme. Jouvenot: Pamela South Poisson: Robert Johnson Quinault: John Davies Orchestra and Chorus of the San Francisco Opera; Gianandrea Gavazzeni. 9 September 1977.

Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Act 3
Adriana Lecouvreur: Renata Scotto Il Principe di Bouillon: James Courtney La Principessa: Elena Obraztsova L’Abate: Joseph Frank Maiordomo: Winther Andersen Maurizio: Giacomo Aragall Michonnet: Giuseppe Taddei Mme. Dangeville: Mildred Tyree Mme. Jouvenot: Pamela South Poisson: Robert Johnson Quinault: John Davies Orchestra and Chorus of the San Francisco Opera; Gianandrea Gavazzeni. 9 September 1977.

Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Act 2
Adriana Lecouvreur: Renata Scotto Il Principe di Bouillon: James Courtney La Principessa: Elena Obraztsova L’Abate: Joseph Frank Maiordomo: Winther Andersen Maurizio: Giacomo Aragall Michonnet: Giuseppe Taddei Mme. Dangeville: Mildred Tyree Mme. Jouvenot: Pamela South Poisson: Robert Johnson Quinault: John Davies Orchestra and Chorus of the San Francisco Opera; Gianandrea Gavazzeni. 9 September 1977.

Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) Act 1
Adriana Lecouvreur: Renata Scotto Il Principe di Bouillon: James Courtney La Principessa: Elena Obraztsova L’Abate: Joseph Frank Maiordomo: Winther Andersen Maurizio: Giacomo Aragall Michonnet: Giuseppe Taddei Mme. Dangeville: Mildred Tyree Mme. Jouvenot: Pamela South Poisson: Robert Johnson Quinault: John Davies Orchestra and Chorus of the San Francisco Opera; Gianandrea Gavazzeni. 9 September 1977.

Lulu (Berg) Act 2
Anja Silja (Lulu) Gerd Nienstedt (Der Tierbandiger) Ernst Gutstein (Dr Schoen) Waldemar Kmentt (Alwa Schoen) William Blankenship (Der Maler) Hans Brand (Der Medizinalrat) Hans Hotter (Schigolch) Manfred Jungwirth (Der Theaterdirektor) Hilde Konetzni (Garderobiere) Mario Guggia (Der Prinz) Martha Moedl (Grafin Geschwitz) Oskar Czerwenka (Rodrigo) Rohangiz Yachmi (Der Gymnasiast) Heinz Zednik (Ein Kammerdiener) Orchestra and Chorus of the Vienna State Opera; Karl Bohm. 16 December 1968.

Lulu (Berg) Act 1
Anja Silja (Lulu) Gerd Nienstedt (Der Tierbandiger) Ernst Gutstein (Dr Schoen) Waldemar Kmentt (Alwa Schoen) William Blankenship (Der Maler) Hans Brand (Der Medizinalrat) Hans Hotter (Schigolch) Manfred Jungwirth (Der Theaterdirektor) Hilde Konetzni (Garderobiere) Mario Guggia (Der Prinz) Martha Moedl (Grafin Geschwitz) Oskar Czerwenka (Rodrigo) Rohangiz Yachmi (Der Gymnasiast) Heinz Zednik (Ein Kammerdiener) Orchestra and Chorus of the Vienna State Opera; Karl Bohm. 16 December 1968.

Ernani (Verdi) Acts 3 and 4
Ernani: Mario Del Monaco Elvira: Anita Cerquetti Don Carlo: Ettore Bastanini Silva: Boris Christoff Giovanna: Luciana Boni Don Riccardo: Athos Cesarini Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino; Dimitri Mitropoulos. June 23, 1957.

Ernani (Verdi) Act 2
Ernani: Mario Del Monaco Elvira: Anita Cerquetti Don Carlo: Ettore Bastanini Silva: Boris Christoff Giovanna: Luciana Boni Don Riccardo: Athos Cesarini Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino; Dimitri Mitropoulos. June 23, 1957.

Ernani (Verdi) Act 1
Ernani: Mario Del Monaco Elvira: Anita Cerquetti Don Carlo: Ettore Bastanini Silva: Boris Christoff Giovanna: Luciana Boni Don Riccardo: Athos Cesarini Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino; Dimitri Mitropoulos. June 23, 1957.

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni)
Santuzza: Leonie Rysanek; Turiddu: Placido Domingo; Alfio: Benito di Bella; Mamma Lucia: Astrid Varnay; Lola: Ruth Falcon. Orchestra: Orchestra of the National Theater, Munich; Nello Santi. December 25, 1978.

Il pirata (Bellini) Act 2
Imogene: Maria Callas; Gualtiero: Pier Miranda Ferraro; Ernesto: Costantino Ego; Itulbo: Glade Peterson; Goffredo: Chester Watson; Adele: Regina Sarfaty. Orchestra and Chorus of the American Opera Society; Nicola Rescigno. January 27, 1959; Carnegie Hall, New York.

Il pirata (Bellini) Act 1
Imogene: Maria Callas; Gualtiero: Pier Miranda Ferraro; Ernesto: Costantino Ego; Itulbo: Glade Peterson; Goffredo: Chester Watson; Adele: Regina Sarfaty. Orchestra and Chorus of the American Opera Society; Nicola Rescigno. January 27, 1959; Carnegie Hall, New York.

La Vestale (Spontini) Act 3
Giulia: Leyla Gencer; Cinna: Renato Bruson; Licinio: Robleto Merolla; Il Sommo Sacerdote: Agostino Ferrin; La Gran Vestale: Franca Mattiucci; Un Aruspice: Sergio Sisti; Un Console: Enrico Campi. Orchestra e coro del Teatro Massino di Palermo; Fernando Previtali. 4 December 1969.

Luciano Pavarotti 1935-2007
A tribute to the celebrated tenor, who died today at the age of 71.

La Vestale (Spontini) Act 2
Giulia: Leyla Gencer; Cinna: Renato Bruson; Licinio: Robleto Merolla; Il Sommo Sacerdote: Agostino Ferrin; La Gran Vestale: Franca Mattiucci; Un Aruspice: Sergio Sisti; Un Console: Enrico Campi. Orchestra e coro del Teatro Massino di Palermo; Fernando Previtali. 4 December 1969.

La Vestale (Spontini) Act 1
Giulia: Leyla Gencer; Cinna: Renato Bruson; Licinio: Robleto Merolla; Il Sommo Sacerdote: Agostino Ferrin; La Gran Vestale: Franca Mattiucci; Un Aruspice: Sergio Sisti; Un Console: Enrico Campi. Orchestra e coro del Teatro Massino di Palermo; Fernando Previtali. 4 December 1969.

Roberto Devereux (Donizetti) Act 3
Elisabetta: Nelly Miricioiu; Sara: Sonia Ganassi; Roberto: Jose Bros; Nottingham: Roberto Frontali; Gualtiero: Graeme Broadbent; Cecil: Robin Leggate. Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden; Maurizio Benini. July 8, 2002. Bonus: a scene from Donizetti’s Anna Bolena.

Roberto Devereux (Donizetti) Act 2
Elisabetta: Nelly Miricioiu; Sara: Sonia Ganassi; Roberto: Jose Bros; Nottingham: Roberto Frontali; Gualtiero: Graeme Broadbent; Cecil: Robin Leggate. Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden; Maurizio Benini. July 8, 2002. Bonus: a scene from Rossini’s Ermione.

Roberto Devereux (Donizetti) Act 1
Elisabetta: Nelly Miricioiu; Sara: Sonia Ganassi; Roberto: Jose Bros; Nottingham: Roberto Frontali; Gualtiero: Graeme Broadbent; Cecil: Robin Leggate. Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden; Maurizio Benini. July 8, 2002.

Der Fliegende Hollander (Wagner)
Daland: Ludwig Weber Senta: Astrid Varnay Erik: Wolfgang Windgassen Mary: Elisabeth Schartel Steuermann: Josef Traxel Hollander: Hermann Uhde Festspielhaus Bayreuth, July 22, 1955. Conductor: Hans Knappertsbusch.

Parsifal (Wagner) Act 3
Parsifal: Jon Vickers Kundry: Barbro Ericson Gurnemanz: Hans Hotter Amfortas: Thomas Stewart Festspielhaus Bayreuth. August 13, 1964. Hans Knappertsbusch.

Parsifal (Wagner) Act 2
Parsifal: Hans Beirer Kundry: Regine Crespin Klingsor: Gustav Neidlinger. Festspielhaus Bayreuth. August 5, 1960. Hans Knappertsbusch.

Parsifal (Wagner) Act 1
Parsifal: Wolfgang Windgassen Amfortas: George London Gurnemanz: Ludwig Weber Titurel: Arnold van Mill Kundry: Martha Modl. Festspielhaus Bayreuth. August 22, 1951. Hans Knappertsbusch.

Rienzi (Wagner) Act 3
Rienzi: Siegfried Jerusalem Irene: Nancy Gustafson Steffano Colonna: Walter Fink Adriano: Violeta Urmana Paolo Orsini: Peter Weber Raimondo: Roland Schubert Baroncelli: Torsten Kerl Cecco: Wolfgang Bankl Friedensbote: Anat Efraty. Zubin Mehta. Vienna State Opera, 13 December 1997.

Rienzi (Wagner) Act 2
Rienzi: Siegfried Jerusalem Irene: Nancy Gustafson Steffano Colonna: Walter Fink Adriano: Violeta Urmana Paolo Orsini: Peter Weber Raimondo: Roland Schubert Baroncelli: Torsten Kerl Cecco: Wolfgang Bankl Friedensbote: Anat Efraty. Zubin Mehta. Vienna State Opera, 13 December 1997.

Rienzi (Wagner) Act 1
Rienzi: Siegfried Jerusalem Irene: Nancy Gustafson Steffano Colonna: Walter Fink Adriano: Violeta Urmana Paolo Orsini: Peter Weber Raimondo: Roland Schubert Baroncelli: Torsten Kerl Cecco: Wolfgang Bankl Friedensbote: Anat Efraty. Zubin Mehta. Vienna State Opera, 13 December 1997.

Tiefland (D’Albert) Act 2
Antonia: Friedl Riegler Martha: Helena Braun Moruccio: Erich Kaufmann Nardo: Erich Majkut Nuri: Else Liebesberg Pedro: Guenther Treptow Pepa: Erika Feichtlinger Rosalia: Elisabeth Fez Sebastiano: Ferdinand Frantz Stimme: Hanns Koch Tommaso: Walter Berry. Rudolf Moralt; Grosses Wiener Rundfunkorchester, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper in der Volksoper. April 1954.

Tiefland (D’Albert) Act 1
Antonia: Friedl Riegler Martha: Helena Braun Moruccio: Erich Kaufmann Nardo: Erich Majkut Nuri: Else Liebesberg Pedro: Guenther Treptow Pepa: Erika Feichtlinger Rosalia: Elisabeth Fez Sebastiano: Ferdinand Frantz Stimme: Hanns Koch Tommaso: Walter Berry. Rudolf Moralt; Grosses Wiener Rundfunkorchester, Chor der Wiener Staatsoper in der Volksoper. April 1954.

L’etoile du Nord (Meyerbeer) Act 3
Elizabeth Futral (Catherine) Vladimir Ognev (Peter the Great) Aled Hall (Danilowitz) Christopher Maltman (Gritzenko) Darina Takova (Prascovia) Juan Diego Florez (George) Agnete Munk Rasmussen (Natalie) Patrizia Cigna (Ekimona) Robert Lee (Ismailov) Fernand Bernardi (Reynolds) Luis Ledesma (Yermolov). Wexford Festival Opera, October, 1996. Wladimir Jurowski, Conductor.

L’etoile du Nord (Meyerbeer) Act 2
Elizabeth Futral (Catherine) Vladimir Ognev (Peter the Great) Aled Hall (Danilowitz) Christopher Maltman (Gritzenko) Darina Takova (Prascovia) Juan Diego Florez (George) Agnete Munk Rasmussen (Natalie) Patrizia Cigna (Ekimona) Robert Lee (Ismailov) Fernand Bernardi (Reynolds) Luis Ledesma (Yermolov). Wexford Festival Opera, October, 1996. Wladimir Jurowski, Conductor.

L’etoile du Nord (Meyerbeer) Act 1
Elizabeth Futral (Catherine) Vladimir Ognev (Peter the Great) Aled Hall (Danilowitz) Christopher Maltman (Gritzenko) Darina Takova (Prascovia) Juan Diego Florez (George) Agnete Munk Rasmussen (Natalie) Patrizia Cigna (Ekimona) Robert Lee (Ismailov) Fernand Bernardi (Reynolds) Luis Ledesma (Yermolov). Wexford Festival Opera, October, 1996. Wladimir Jurowski, Conductor.

La Fiamma (Respighi) Act 3
Silvana – Alessandra Marc Donello – James McCracken Eudossia – Mignon Dunn Basilio – Andrew Smith Lucilla – Carolyn Sebron Agnese – Jane Shaulis Agata – Lynnen Yakes Zoe/Sabina – Mary Ann Hart Monica – Delcina Stevenson Conductor – Robert Bass New York December 4, 1987.

La Fiamma (Respighi) Act 2
Silvana – Alessandra Marc Donello – James McCracken Eudossia – Mignon Dunn Basilio – Andrew Smith Lucilla – Carolyn Sebron Agnese – Jane Shaulis Agata – Lynnen Yakes Zoe/Sabina – Mary Ann Hart Monica – Delcina Stevenson Conductor – Robert Bass New York December 4, 1987.

La Fiamma (Respighi) Act 1
Silvana – Alessandra Marc Donello – James McCracken Eudossia – Mignon Dunn Basilio – Andrew Smith Lucilla – Carolyn Sebron Agnese – Jane Shaulis Agata – Lynnen Yakes Zoe/Sabina – Mary Ann Hart Monica – Delcina Stevenson Conductor – Robert Bass New York December 4, 1987.

Olimpia (Spontini) Acts 2 and 3
Olimpia: Pilar Lorengar Statira: Fiorenza Cossotto Cassandro: Franco Tagliavini Antigono: Giangiacomo Guelfi High Priest: Nicola Zaccaria Hermas: Silvio Majonica Orchestra and Chorus Teatro alla Scala Francesco Molinari-Pradelli. conductor Milan June 6, 1966.

Olimpia (Spontini) Act 1
Olimpia: Pilar Lorengar Statira: Fiorenza Cossotto Cassandro: Franco Tagliavini Antigono: Giangiacomo Guelfi High Priest: Nicola Zaccaria Hermas: Silvio Majonica Orchestra and Chorus Teatro alla Scala Francesco Molinari-Pradelli. conductor Milan June 6, 1966.

200th Unnatural Act Gala, Part 2
Celebrating our 200th podcast, with special guests Karita Mattila, Rolando Villazon, Renee Fleming, Dorothy Kirsten, Renata Scotto, Elena Obratszova, David Daniels, Ruth Ann Swenson, Renata Tebaldi, Giuseppe diStefano, Marilyn Horne, Montserrat Caballe, Kostas Paskalis, Alain Vanzo, Krassimira Stoyanova, Marcello Giordani and Aprile Millo.

200th Unnatural Act Gala, Part 1
Celebrating our 200th podcast, with special guests Maria Callas, Cesare Valletti, Rosanna Carteri, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Tito Gobbi, Birgit Nilsson, Leonie Rysanek, Alfredo Kraus, Jeannette Pilou, Cesare Siepi, Jessye Norman, Joan Sutherland and Leontyne Price.

I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Bellini) Act 2
Giulietta: Anna Netrebko Romeo: Daniela Barcellona Tebaldo: Joseph Calleja Capellio: Dan Dumitrescu Lorenzo: Chester Patton Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra Conductor Ivor Bolton; Chorus master Rupert Huber. Salzburg Festival, August 21, 2004.

I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Bellini) Act 1
Giulietta: Anna Netrebko Romeo: Daniela Barcellona Tebaldo: Joseph Calleja Capellio: Dan Dumitrescu Lorenzo: Chester Patton Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra Conductor Ivor Bolton; Chorus master Rupert Huber. Salzburg Festival, August 21, 2004.

Armide (Gluck) Part 3
Armide: Anna Caterina Antonacci Hidraot: Donnie Ray Albert Renaud: Vinson Cole Artemidore: Christian Baumgaertel Ubalde: Roberto de Candia Le Chevalier danois: Juan Diego Florez Phenice: Adina Nitescu Sidonie: Lotte Leitner Aronte: Marco Camastra La Haine: Violeta Urmana La Naiade: Cristina Sogmaister Riccardo Muti; La Scala. December 7, 1996.

Armide (Gluck) Part 2
Armide: Anna Caterina Antonacci Hidraot: Donnie Ray Albert Renaud: Vinson Cole Artemidore: Christian Baumgaertel Ubalde: Roberto de Candia Le Chevalier danois: Juan Diego Florez Phenice: Adina Nitescu Sidonie: Lotte Leitner Aronte: Marco Camastra La Haine: Violeta Urmana La Naiade: Cristina Sogmaister Riccardo Muti; La Scala. December 7, 1996.

Armide (Gluck) Part 1
Armide: Anna Caterina Antonacci Hidraot: Donnie Ray Albert Renaud: Vinson Cole Artemidore: Christian Baumgaertel Ubalde: Roberto de Candia Le Chevalier danois: Juan Diego Florez Phenice: Adina Nitescu Sidonie: Lotte Leitner Aronte: Marco Camastra La Haine: Violeta Urmana La Naiade: Cristina Sogmaister Riccardo Muti; La Scala. December 7, 1996.

Loreley (Catalani) Act 3
Loreley: Elena Suliotis Anna di Rehberg: Rita Talarico Walter di Oberwesel: Gianfranco Cecchele Il Barone Herrmann: Piero Cappuccilli Rodolfo di Biberich: Agostino Ferrin La Scala; Gianandrea Gavazzeni. February 13, 1968.

Loreley (Catalani) Act 2
Loreley: Elena Suliotis Anna di Rehberg: Rita Talarico Walter di Oberwesel: Gianfranco Cecchele Il Barone Herrmann: Piero Cappuccilli Rodolfo di Biberich: Agostino Ferrin La Scala; Gianandrea Gavazzeni. February 13, 1968.

Loreley (Catalani) Act 1
Loreley: Elena Suliotis Anna di Rehberg: Rita Talarico Walter di Oberwesel: Gianfranco Cecchele Il Barone Herrmann: Piero Cappuccilli Rodolfo di Biberich: Agostino Ferrin La Scala; Gianandrea Gavazzeni. February 13, 1968.

100th Anniversary of Butterfly at the Met
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Recordings of the “original cast” — Geraldine Farrar, Enrico Caruso and Antonio Scotti.

Grace Bumbry sings Richard Strauss
Soprano Grace Bumbry performs scenes from Salome and Elektra.

Un ballo in maschera (Verdi) Act 3
Antonietta Stella (Amelia) Giuseppe Di Stefano (Riccardo) Ettore Bastianini (Renato) Ebe Stignani (Ulrica) Eugenia Ratti (Oscar) Niccola Zaccaria (Tom) Silvio Majonica (Samuel) Giuseppe Morresi (Silvano) Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala; Gianandrea Gavazzeni. 12 April 1956.

Un ballo in maschera (Verdi) Act 2
Antonietta Stella (Amelia) Giuseppe Di Stefano (Riccardo) Ettore Bastianini (Renato) Ebe Stignani (Ulrica) Eugenia Ratti (Oscar) Niccola Zaccaria (Tom) Silvio Majonica (Samuel) Giuseppe Morresi (Silvano) Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala; Gianandrea Gavazzeni. 12 April 1956.

Un ballo in maschera (Verdi) Act 1
Antonietta Stella (Amelia) Giuseppe Di Stefano (Riccardo) Ettore Bastianini (Renato) Ebe Stignani (Ulrica) Eugenia Ratti (Oscar) Niccola Zaccaria (Tom) Silvio Majonica (Samuel) Giuseppe Morresi (Silvano) Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala; Gianandrea Gavazzeni. 12 April 1956.

Eleanor Steber Live at The Continental Baths
Mozart: Zeffiretti lusinghieri (from Idomeno), Ach. ich fuehl’s (from Die Zauberfloete), Come scoglio (from Cosi fan tutte). Charpentier: Depuis le jour (from Louise). Puccini: Quando m’en vo (from La boheme). Massenet: Scene and Gavotte (from Manon). Sieczynski: Wien, du Stadt meiner Traeume. Kreisler: Stars in My Eyes. Lehar: Medley from The Merry Widow. Puccini: Vissi d’Arte (from Tosca). Edwin Biltcliffe, Piano; Joseph Rabb, Violin. October 4, 1973.

Der Barbier von Baghdad (Cornelius) Act 2
Alfred Poell – Kalif Erich Majkut – Baba Mustapha Sena Jurinac – Margiana Hilde Roessl-Majdan – Bostana Rudolf Schock – Nureddin Gotlob Frick – Abul Hassan Walter Berry- 1. Muezzin Kurt Equiluz – 2. Muezzin Richard Sallaba – 3. Muezzin Heinrich Hollreiser; Chor und Orchester Radio Wien, 1952.

Der Barbier von Baghdad (Cornelius) Act 1
Alfred Poell – Kalif Erich Majkut – Baba Mustapha Sena Jurinac – Margiana Hilde Roessl-Majdan – Bostana Rudolf Schock – Nureddin Gotlob Frick – Abul Hassan Walter Berry- 1. Muezzin Kurt Equiluz – 2. Muezzin Richard Sallaba – 3. Muezzin Heinrich Hollreiser; Chor und Orchester Radio Wien, 1952.

I puritani (Bellini) Acts 2 and 3
Luciano Pavarotti (Arturo) Louis Quilico (Riccardo) Paul Plishka (Giorgia) Ellen Shade (Queen Enrichetta) Thomas Paul (Lord Walton) Beverly Sills (Elvira) Anton Guadagno, conductor. Live performance, 18 January 1972, Philadelphia Lyric Opera.

I puritani (Bellini) Act 1
Luciano Pavarotti (Arturo) Louis Quilico (Riccardo) Paul Plishka (Giorgia) Ellen Shade (Queen Enrichetta) Thomas Paul (Lord Walton) Beverly Sills (Elvira) Anton Guadagno, conductor. Live performance, 18 January 1972, Philadelphia Lyric Opera.

Unnatural Acts of Opera