The great Ukrainian baritone, Igor Gorin, is heard in his prime on this rare radio concert from December 10, 1945. The voice is gorgeous, and the tecnique is perfection.

Gorin was born in the Ukraine in 1904, and I believe he became an American citizen in the 1940's, if not ealier.

He made his one and only very belated appearance at the Metropolitan Opera in 1964, at 60 years of age, as Germont in Traviata. I was there, and the voice was still gorgeous and perfectly focused. It was not a huge voice, but carried extremely well.

I'm sure you will enjoy this 1945 radio concert. Please feel free to leave your comments.

All podcasts are also found at www.premiereopera.com

Best wishes,

Ed

Here is the very young Richard Tucker in some of his first coast to coast radio appearances. These selections are taken from 1945-6, so this is how the great Tucker sounded when he first stepped foot on the stage of the old Met on January 25, 1945. His duet partners include Ribla, Lipton, and Weede. All selections are performaned in English, as was the custom of most of the opera concerts on radio in the mid 1940's.  The program follows:

1.  Aida- Nile duet- w. Gertrude Ribla- 1946

2.  Aida- Judgment duet- w. Martha Lipton- 1946

3.  Cavalleria Rusticana- Farewell to Mother- 1945

4.  Rigoletto- Though a lady- 1945

5.  L'Africana- O Paradise!- 1945

6.  Pearlfishers- I seem to hear her singing- 1946

7.  Pearlfishers duet- Within the temple there- w. Robert Weede- 1946

8.  Faust duet- Garden Scene- w. Gertrude Ribla- 1945

9.  Boris duet- From near and far- w. Martha Lipton- 1946

 

My own personal favorites are the gorgeous Pearlfishers duet, where Tucker and Weede blend their beautiful voices magnificently, and the Boris scene with Martha Lipton, where Tucker sounds as golden toned as is possible!

These and all podcasts are also available at www.premiereopera.com

 

Best wishes,

Ed

Here is the very young Richard Tucker in some of his first coast to coast radio appearances. These selections are taken from 1945-6, so this is how the great Tucker sounded when he first stepped foot on the stage of the old Met on January 25, 1945. His duet partners include Ribla, Lipton, and Weede.

Eleanor Steber and Jussi Bjoerling join forces for a wonderful 30 minute radio concert from early 1946. Both were in their absolute prime, and they sing two duets, in addition to solo pieces. Truly great, and historical.

All podcasts can also be found at www.premiereopera.com

 

 

One of the very greatest voices America has ever produced was the great baritone, Robert Merrill. What better way to help celebrate the 4th of July than to here Robert Merrill sing the songs of America. Recorded in the 1970's, this was one of Merrill's last recordings, and one of his greatest!!  The selections are:

1.  Battle hymn of the republic

2.  America the beautiful

3.  Hoe down!

4.  Beautiful dreamer

5.  Oklahoma

6.  Mademoiselle from Armentieres

7.  Camptown races

8.  Carry me back to the lone prairie

9.  Blow the man down

10. The Whiffenpoof song

 

Thanks, and a  happy 4th to all!!

Ed

 

Beverly Sills as Suor Angelica, from "Senza Mamma" to end of the opera. With deepest sorrow, and in loving memory.

Ed Rosen July 3, 2007