The Operatic PastCast

On tour in Australia in 1994, Victoria de los Angeles was recorded speaking and responding to questions from the audience. Her charm, openness and philosophy are evident throughout both of the two ca. 25 minute episodes; only the last segment of the second episode deals specifically with her singing (Part 2 of 2).

During the broadcast of La boheme on February 4, 1967, a two part episode of Biographies in Music was aired, hosted by Francis Robinson about Scottish soprano Mary Garden.  He speaks of biographical details in his inimitable style and the listener will hear excerpts from Louise, Paellas et Mélisande, Carmen, La traviata, At Parting, In the Gloaming, At Dawning and Annie Laurie.  I have included the announcements before and after each of the two parts which play without interruption.

During the broadcast of La boheme on February 4, 1967, a two part episode of Biographies in Music was aired, hosted by Francis Robinson about Scottish soprano Mary Garden.  He speaks of biographical details in his inimitable style and the listener will hear excerpts from Louise, Paellas et Mélisande, Carmen, La traviata, At Parting, In the Gloaming, At Dawning and Annie Laurie.  I have included the announcements before and after each of the two parts which play without interruption.

The 1959-1960 season of the Metropolitan Opera found Alfred Hubay as Chief Usher for Rudolf Bing’s tenth season as GeneralManager. Mr. Hubay’s memories include a new production of Simon Boccanegra for Leonard Warren, followed by the most tragic event in the Metropolitan Opera’s history, the debuts of Pavel Lisitsian as Amonasro, Anselmo Colzani in Simon Boccanegra with its constantly changing casts, such as Zinka Milanov’s first Amelia (Part 3 of 5).

The 1959-1960 season of the Metropolitan Opera found Alfred Hubay as Chief Usher for Rudolf Bing’s tenth season as GeneralManager. Mr. Hubay’s memories include a new production of Simon Boccanegra for Leonard Warren, followed by the most tragic event in the Metropolitan Opera’s history, the debuts of Pavel Lisitsian as Amonasro, Anselmo Colzani in Simon Boccanegra with its constantly changing casts, such as Zinka Milanov’s first Amelia (Part 3 of 5).

The 1959-1960 season of the Metropolitan Opera found Alfred Hubay as Chief Usher for Rudolf Bing’s tenth season as General Manager.  Mr. Hubay’s memories include the tumultuous debut of Birgit Nilsson in a new production of Tristan ind Isolde, a failure of a new production of The Gypsy Baron with Nicolai Gedda, Lisa della Casa and Regina Resnik and revivals of Pelléas et Mélisande with George London and Der fliegende Holläner also with London and Leonie Rysanek (Part 2 of 5).

The 1959-1960 season of the Metropolitan Opera found Alfred Hubay as Chief Usher for Rudolf Bing’s tenth season as General Manager.  Mr. Hubay’s memories include the tumultuous debut of Birgit Nilsson in a new production of Tristan ind Isolde, a failure of a new production of The Gypsy Baron with Nicolai Gedda, Lisa della Casa and Regina Resnik and revivals of Pelléas et Mélisande with George London and Der fliegende Holläner also with London and Leonie Rysanek (Part 2 of 5).

On tour in Australia in 1994, Victoria de los Angeles was recorded speaking and responding to questions from the audience. Her charm, openness and philosophy are evident throughout both of the two ca. 25 minute episodes (Part 1 of 2).

On tour in Australia in 1994, Victoria de los Angeles was recorded speaking and responding to questions from the audience. Her charm, openness and philosophy are evident throughout both of the two ca. 25 minute episodes (Part 1 of 2).

On January 23, 1962, the BBC produced a program called “Prima Donna: A Meeting with an Opera Star”.  Introduced by Alastair Selway, the 84-year-old Scottish soprano Mary Garden spoke with Madeau Stewart on subjects such as when to stop and retire, creating the role of Mélisande, advice for beginning singers, the role of Carmen, teaching, sopranos Nellie Melba, Luisa Tetrazzini, working with Richard Strauss and Jules Massenet.  The listener will hear excerpts from Louise and Carmen.

On January 23, 1962, the BBC produced a program called “Prima Donna: A Meeting with an Opera Star”.  Introduced by Alastair Selway, the 84-year-old Scottish soprano Mary Garden spoke with Madeau Stewart on subjects such as when to stop and retire, creating the role of Mélisande, advice for beginning singers, the role of Carmen, teaching, sopranos Nellie Melba, Luisa Tetrazzini, working with Richard Strauss and Jules Massenet.  The listener will hear excerpts from Louise and Carmen.

The 1959-1960 season of the Metropolitan Opera found Alfred Hubay as Chief Usher for Rudolf Bing’s tenth season as General Manager.  Mr. Hubay’s memories include an opening night new production of Il trovatore with Antonietta Stella, C arlo Bergonzi and Giulietta Simionato in her Met debut, Cavalleria rusticate with Jan Peerce and Jussi Björling with the Santuzza of Giulietta Simionato, and a failed new production of Le nozze di Figaro with Elisabeth Söderström in her debut as Susanna (Part 1 of 5).

The 1959-1960 season of the Metropolitan Opera found Alfred Hubay as Chief Usher for Rudolf Bing’s tenth season as General Manager.  Mr. Hubay’s memories include an opening night new production of Il trovatore with Antonietta Stella, C arlo Bergonzi and Giulietta Simionato in her Met debut, Cavalleria rusticate with Jan Peerce and Jussi Björling with the Santuzza of Giulietta Simionato, and a failed new production of Le nozze di Figaro with Elisabeth Söderström in her debut as Susanna (Part 1 of 5).

As remembered by Alfred Hubay, there were many memorable moments of the 1958-1959 season of the Metropolitan Opera including the debuts of 5 tenors: Dimiter Uzunov, Flaviano Labo, Primo Zambruno, Karl Liebl and Barry Morell, Zinka Milanov’s first Met Desdemona, the first Met Iago of Tito Gobbi, the debuts of Karl Dönch and Aäse Nordmo-Llövberg as Sieglinde, the Lohengrin of Brian Sullivan, a classic cancellation/replacement story and a disastrous Verdi Requiem (Part 3 of 3).

As remembered by Alfred Hubay, there were many memorable moments of the 1958-1959 season of the Metropolitan Opera including the debuts of 5 tenors: Dimiter Uzunov, Flaviano Labo, Primo Zambruno, Karl Liebl and Barry Morell, Zinka Milanov’s first Met Desdemona, the first Met Iago of Tito Gobbi, the debuts of Karl Dönch and Aäse Nordmo-Llövberg as Sieglinde, the Lohengrin of Brian Sullivan, a classic cancellation/replacement story and a disastrous Verdi Requiem (Part 3 of 3).