The Operatic PastCast

On February 2, 1963, radio listeners heard an interview conducted by John Gurman of Lotte Lehmann and Maria Jeritza, two sopranos well known for their appearances in operas by Richard Straus.  In this part, they discuss Richard Strauss as a conductor, Die Frau one Schatten, Elektra, Salome, Intermezzo and Der Rosenkavalier.  They also talk about Puccini, Tosca, Il trittico and contemporary singing (Part 2 of 2).

On February 2, 1963, radio listeners heard an interview conducted by John Gurman of Lotte Lehmann and Maria Jeritza, two sopranos well known for their appearances in operas by Richard Straus.  In this part, they talk about the two versions of Ariadne auf Naxos (Part 1 of 2).

The 1953-1954 season was Alfred Hubay’s eleventh season as an usher for the Metropolitan Opera.  Here he reminiscences about the debuts of James McCracken, Rosalind Elias, Charles Anthony, Theodor Uppman, and Gino Penno, the Mimi of Hilde Guuml;den, the Count of George London and the revival of Norma for Zinka Milanov (Part 2 of 2).

In 1973, noted collector Roger Gross produced a radio tribute to Zinka Milanov with the participation of the diva herself as well as Philadelphia critic Max de Schauensee.  They discuss her new role as a teacher, the short careers of young singers, the influence of Maria Callas on the operatic world and the danger of singing in more than one fach.  The listener will recordings of Milanov singing a Yugoslavian folk song, Schumann’s Mondnacht, a song called Longing, composed by Milanov’s brother, Bozidar Kunc and La mamma morta from Andrea Chenier (Part 3 of 3).

In 1962, the BBC interviewed the affable and articulate tenor, Giovanni Martinelli.  They touch briefly on important events in his career, but the focus was on his “desert island” recordings.  These are the voices of John McCormack, Tita Ruffo, Claudia   Muzio, Beniamino Gigli, Amelita Galli-Curci, Tito Schipa, Enrico Caruso and Rosa Ponselle.

The 1953-1954 season was Alfred Hubay’s eleventh seasons an usher for the Metropolitan Opera.  Here he reminiscences about the opening night new production of Faust with Jussi Bjouml;fling and Victoria de los Angeles, a new production of Tannhauml;use with Ramon Vinay, George London and Margaret Harshaw, a new production of Il barbiere di Siviglia with Robert Merrill, Roberta Peters, Cesare Valletti and the debuts of Fernando Corena, Lisa della Casa, Irmgaard Seefried and Ettore Bastianini (Part 1 of 2).

In December of 1972, BBC Television produced a recital and interview with soprano Birgit Nilsson.  She talks about spending time in Sweden and its music, her temperament, Rudolf Bing, singers being discovered and tempted by agents, scheduling periods of rest and the addition of Salome to her repertoire.  She sings a Swedish folk song and the final scene from Salome (Part 2 of 2).

In 1973, noted collector Roger Gross produced a radio tribute to Zinka Milanov with the participation of the diva herself as well as Philadelphia critic Max de Schauensee.  They discuss critical critics and her experiences with Arturo Toscanini.  The listener will hear an aria from Aida and the quartet from Rigoletto (Part 2 of 3).

The season of 1952-1953 was Alfred Hubay’s tenth season as an usher for the Metropolitan Opera.  Here he talks about a nationwide telecast of Carmen, a Met Jamboree, the mergence of George London, the debuts of Erich Kunz and Hilde Zadek, the Marschallin of Astrid Varnay and the Italianate Carmen of Fedora Barbieri and Mario del Monaco (Part 2 of 2).

In December of 1972, BBC Television produced a recital and interview with soprano Birgit Nilsson.  She gives a colorful description of her early years, her family, her studies and her thoughts about and experiences of singing the 3 Brünnhildes.   Examples of her singing include arias from Tosca, Tristan und Isolde and La forza del destino (Part 1 of 2).

In 1973, noted collector Roger Gross produced a radio tribute to Zinka Milanov with the participation of the diva herself as well as Philadelphia critic Max de Schauensee.  They talk about many things including Mme. Milanov’s vocal aspects such as her famed pianissimo, the “grand” manner and  comparisons of her recordings.   The listener will also hear arias from Il trovatore, Aida and La forza del destino (Part 1 of 3).

In 1972, the BBC produced an hour long program commemorating the 10th anniversary of the pass ing of Kirsten Flagstad.  In this episode, you will hear Flagstad talking about using a certain passage of Brunnhilde to warm up the voice, her domestic traits, reminiscences by soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and pianist/conductor Edwin MacArthur, , her vocal range, her definition of singing, the process of preparing music and singing lieder.  Also heard are excerpts from Die Walküre, Tristan und Isolde and Götterdämmerung (Part 2 of 2).

In 1972, the BBC produced an hour long program commemorating the 10th anniversary of the pass ing of Kirsten Flagstad.  In addition to excerpts from her recordings of her singing, the listener will hear reminiscences by one of her accompanists, Gerald Moore, soprano Dame Eva Turner and David Webster  (Part 1 of 2).

In this episode,  Alfred Hubay recounts his memories and impressions as an usher during his ninth season, 1951-1952, with the Metropolitan Opera.  Among the subjects he covers are the debuts of Hans Hopf and Giacinto Prandelli, the Italianate Manon with Giuseppe di Stefano and Licia Albanese, the return of Maria Jeritza, the voice of Paolo Silveri and Otello with Ramon Vinay, Eleanor Steber and Leonard Warren (Part 4 of 4).

In this episode, collector, author and painter, Harold Bruder, talks about hearing new voices at the New York City Opera.  Among them are Beverly Sills, John Alexander and Samuel Ramey.