The great Cornell MacNeil is heard here at his formidable best. His gorgeous singing of the great baritone aria from Act 3 of Verdi's Ernani is the stuff legends are made of. The audience at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires give him a tremendous ovation, as you will hear.

 

Best,

Ed

Aldo Protti was a fine Italian baritone with a warm, expressive voice. He made many complete recordings for London/Decca in the 1950's, and had at least a 40 year career.

Here he sings the magnificent Pagliacci Prologue. I wish we had him today@@

The great Italian baritone, Piero Cappuccilli, sings the beautiful music Giuseppe Verdi wrote for the baritone's death scene in Don Carlo. This inlcudes two arias: the "Per me giunto" and "Io morro." Cappuccilli sings them with a wonderfully melting legato, and an unbelievable breath control. His Carlo is Jose Carreras, in this 1977 performance from La Scala, with Claudio Abbado conducting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The great Carlo Bergonzi is heard in the music of Giacomo Puccini. First is one of the most gorgeous recordings ever of Rodolfo's Che gelida manina, followed by excerpts from Madama Butterfly, also with Renata Tebaldi, Fiorenza Cossotto, and Enzo Sordello

Jeanette MacDonald and Robert Merrill team up in early 1945 for selections from Romberg's "Up in Central Park." Merrill was quite unknown at the time, and was asked to do the recording after MacDonald heard him on the radio! This Podcast has been filled with other various rare Merrill "cross-overs." The first 6 selections are from "Up in Central Park" by Sigmund Romberg, with the composer himself conducting!

1. Big Back Yard- Up in Central Park- Merrill- 1945

2. Small Carousel in the Park- MacDonald- 1945

3. Close as Pages in a Book- MacDonald/Merrill- 1945

4. It Doesn't Cost you anything to Dream- MacDonald- 1945

5. When you walk in a Room- Merrill- 1945

6.  The Fireman's Bride- MacDonald/Merrill- 1945

7.  If I loved You- Stevens/Merrill- 1951

8.  You're Just in Love- Stevens/Merrill- 1951

9.  So in Love- Peters/Merrill- 1953

10. Indian Love Call- Peters/Merrill- 1953

11. Io canto- "Pop" song- Merrill- 1957

12. Love Train- "Pop" song- Merrill- 1957

13. Gentle Annie- Merrill- 1947

 

Here is the relatively rare complete prison scene from Boito's Mefistofele as recorded in 1959 by Renata Tebaldi, Giuseppe Di Stefano, and Cesare Siepi. This recording was never completed, and was redone the following summer with Mario del Monaco as Faust.

This is one of the truly great Tebaldi scenes, and especially her singing of the "Spunto, l'aurora" is ravishing, and deeply moving.

Please feel free to leave comments!

This and all podcasts can be found at www.premiereopera.com

Best wishes,

Ed