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GREAT AUDIO HISTORY OF THE 50'S & 60'S AT THE OLD MET

lesismore26 | Chicago, Illinois USA | 12/31/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A wonderful collection of arias and scenes from recordings made by the wonderful artists who were Metropolitan Opera regulars in the late 1950's and early 1960's. All of them recorded for RCA Victor, and this wonderful vocal bouquet is fairly representative of the singing they did during their vocal heydays, though a couple of them were a little past theirs at the time they did these recordings. Some of the highlights:Jussi Bjoerling's historic "Nessun dorma" from the wonderful complete "Turandot" recording; Anna Moffo's fragile "Un bel di" from the complete recording of "Madame Butterfly"; Birgit Nilsson, with steel and javelin in her laser-beamed voice, singing a spectacular "In Questa Reggia" from the "Turandot" recording noted above; Renata Tebaldi, in exquisite voice, singing "Signore, ascolta" from the same "Turandot" recording; Zinka Milanov, perhaps a shade past her best days, nonetheless singing a beautifully controlled "Visi d'arte" from her complete "Tosca" recording; Roberta Peters performing the Mad Scene from her complete "Lucia" recording; Leontyne Price's opulent voice wrapping itself around "Tacea la notte placida" from her first complete "Trovatore" recording. Remaining contributions from Franco Corelli (a poorly articulated "Flower Song" from "Carmen, Rise Stevens (well past her prime in the aria from Gluck's "Orfeo"), and Leonie Rysenek (vocally and dramatically unsuited to the "Macbeth" scene) are somewhat less auspicious. Still, there is much to savor and admire on this recording, and at the mid-line price, it can't be beat. Enthusiastically recommended for all opera people."