Leontyne Price & Franco Corelli "Miserere" Met Debut 1/27/61

[mrspanamadi]

This is the first time I've heard Leontyne Price and I am so impressed. I always thought Zinka Milanov was the best in that role before hearing this.

Bella, bella, bella.....thank you

[Gary2837]

What a musical combination!!!! Thanks for posting.

[OperaMystery80]

What a night this was. I wish I had been there but I was born too late, 1980. I have only heard today's recent singers and the older ones that still sing like Placido Domingo or Kiri Te Kenawa. But Leontyne Price and Franco Corelli were magical on stage for their Met debut in '61. It was Leontyne's night, however and she stole the show from what I hear. Corelli was furious. "I will never sing with that woman again"! he was heard to say!

[leontyne2]

I would reverse that previous comment and say that Caruso and Pavorotti, were in the status of Leontyne Price!

[dramaturge23]

I wonder if Ms. Price has seen any of these videos of her opening nights and debuts. I'm sure she'd cherish them in her heart more than anything else. :-)

[Aetion]

Such singers will not be heard anymore. They are like the prehistoric animals that have disappeared. I cannot explain that.

Thanks for the posting.

[billyguns2]

@Aetion I think it's because humans have become genetically weakened; our ancestors were made of stronger, healthier stuff. I believe there is a deliberate effort to depopulate the earth; look at our poisoned air, water, and food supply.

[Artsman85]

@billyguns2 U're right..I completely agree! I think that nowadays when it comes to singers, the only thing they care about is the notes/technique. Don't get me wrong thats a great attribute to have, but if one lacks emotion{which alot of singers had during this time period} the music is dead. But I am confident that history will repeat itself and we will soon get another class of singers who can milk the emotion of an aria and take the audience on a musical journey!

[htshoward]

@Aetion Bravo that comment.  Well said!

[corellithebest]

I remember the story that the singer who sang Emperor Altoum in Turandot at the Met (with Guleghina and Giordani) recently told. He said that at this Met debut in 1961 he sang Ruiz (he has to bring Leonora when she sings this aria) and that Price was so scared before she had to sing "D'amor sull'ali rosee" that she looked up and said: "Dear God, You brought me here, now get me out of it!" By the way, she was MAGNIFICENT there, and of course, Franco, too!

[vstasov]

Monumental artists. Thank you.

[whatever456]

yes Corelli was fucking hot. by any time's standard.

Is this actually the night of their debut? Has it been released on CD?

[paulostroff99]

Stunning debut! OMG 42 min. applause! Brava!

[Selmarg]

Price received a 42 minute standing ovation after her performance at this debut.

42 minutes! Can you imagine what that must have been like?

[NKWIAM]

Since Onegin65 is such a genius at finding this great stuff, we should all chip in and subsidize him. Then he can spend all his time hunting for these gems.

[cleanears]

perfection!

[gibraltarrr]

dang, Franco was fine!

[justinian693]

Oh Girl yes he was!

[gibraltarrr]

actually, i'm a boy, lol

[justinian693]

Me too!

[gibraltarrr]

ROTFLMFAO

[gyslangsdeweg]

was ik maar een tijdreiziger, ik zou wel weten waar ik naar toe zou gaan.

[chengducat]

Ik zit al tijden hetzelfde te denken

[tenorenchanted]

Leontyne is no doubt one of the greatest sopranos of our time. In the status of enrico caruso and Pavarotti. An operatic legend that elicted an aesthetic response in me when I was only 8 years old when I heard her sing for the very first time on radio. Her voice was so angelic to me then, to my childish imagination of an angel (heavenly being). Thank You Leontyne, you make me love opera at a very tender age.

[encore2jour]

Amazing, glorious! thank you. What a cast that was.

This is the Trovatore I attended at the Met! also my first visit to the Met.

[liedersanger1]

Before you were born?!

[operaf209]

How lucky you are!! i was not even born then.. very sad

[pearlmuth3]

Interesting is Price's first recording of a complete opera, 1959 Trov. on RCA and that was Warren's last recording, great by all, Tucker and Tozzi, Elias.

[santasperonotantas]

una joyita, gracias oneguin!!!!

[donatello1]

Onegin65...Muchas gracias por tus collectiones tan fabulosos. This is incredible!

THANK YOU!

[dulcamara66]

Che dire.... assolutamente sublime Miss Price e stupendo  Corelli...averne adesso...

[benderpm]

This is my favorite Verdi Opera because of Leonore's Glorius music and because of how Price presented it over and over again with sheer elegance and grace.!~~~~~

[vkaminsky]

Magnificent, where do you find these Onegin? If anyone knows where to find Price's NBC (I believe) Tosca debut, I would treasure seeing it.

[royalbattle]

There is a highlight album out that is commercially available. I am not so sure that this performance is the actual debut. There is a recording several days after for the Saturday broadcasts (Feb 4, 1961) and that is widely available. Check out Rhapsody for old Met broadcasts.

[Onegin65]

This is a recording made by the audience In-House January 27, 1961, that date was the debut. The commercial recording available is the Met broadcast February 4, 1961

[vkaminsky]

Thank you both. Onegin, you continue to amaze me with the breadth of your collection and your knowledge.

[amanavoice]

... zu DEUTSCH to FoggyRoad81 "das ist Quatsch!!"

L.Price is perfect a "Grand Dame of the Opera" and we can hear, she had learnd a excellent "Stimmführung"also "Atemtechnik by the great Herbert von Karajan.

please make your work so "1A" dear Onegin65

[FoggyRoad81]

if anyone says that Price isn't invested in the character and can't act again I will smack them. Listen to this!

[Pagudo]

Thisis a historical operatic performance. Thanks