Sony Classical's series of Metropolitan Opera reissues, newly remastered from live broadcasts with the cooperation of the Met itself, has met with well-deserved commercial success. From a wealth of material available in the archives of the Met's weekly Saturday broadcasts the compilers have picked shows that represent the wealth of talent present in the U.S. in the middle of the last century. This double bill of short operas contains prime performances by three of the greats. Though Eileen Farrell was in the top ranks of ...
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Sony Classical's series of Metropolitan Opera reissues, newly remastered from live broadcasts with the cooperation of the Met itself, has met with well-deserved commercial success. From a wealth of material available in the archives of the Met's weekly Saturday broadcasts the compilers have picked shows that represent the wealth of talent present in the U.S. in the middle of the last century. This double bill of short operas contains prime performances by three of the greats. Though Eileen Farrell was in the top ranks of American sopranos for several decades, her career with the Metropolitan Opera lasted just five years. This performance of Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana was her last Met broadcast, and her performance as Santuzza has both passion and vocal thrills. The highlights, perhaps, are her duets with the equally mighty Richard Tucker. Tenor Franco Corelli is the star in Pagliacci, and he inspires sheer Caruso-like awe in the iconic "Vesti la giubba." The sound, boxy but crystal clear, will be...
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