L´Italiana at the Centennial Gala

[VMDICKS]

I was unable to watch this 8 hour + spectacular. Would anyone have a borrow copy to share? I would pay for shipping both ways. vinfirsttenor@aol.com.

[skitzo429]

does anyone know when this was? Edda Moser's high Cs are definitely not what they used to be in this video haha she used to have solid Fs no problem once upon a time.

[skitzo429]

i just found in another video of this performane that its 1983, so she was only 45, ouch haha

[BeauTenor]

I tihink you might listen to the tessitura and take into account that she's up high nonstop in this ensemble. It's got to be tiring.

[skitzo429]

I dont think the tessitura of this role being taxing is particularly significant, there are 2 high Cs, the rest of it sits around G, which should be no problem for her, she has (or, had) high Fs and Gs. her voice just sounds so damaged compared to how it sounded when she was younger, all the big heavy roles and screaming high stuff she sang her whole career really took its tole, she was only in her 40s here but she has the sound of vocal damage of a much older woman.

[BeauTenor]

Right, but having an F doesn't really have anything to do with the tessitura. Even with the Queen, you wouldn't be singing sustained phrases up that high. No one could do it. A tessitura that lies on or around G at the top of the stave is VERY high, and VERY tiring, no matter how high one can sing. Moser had a long career too, from 1962 to the late 90's. Evidently she did something right,

[skitzo429]

Im just speaking generally, not necessarily the particular technical demands of this role, she sang a lot of big heavy roles for most of her career, and the way her voice sounds here really shows the strain she has put on it. Its the kind of vocal damage you hear in sopranos a decade older than she is here.

[joaopedro12]

omg sesto bruscantini's timbre is just fantaastic and he's the one who makes this worth to hear, no it's a real difficult sextet!

[gregopera15]

Wow I heard the Rinaldo clip with Moser and she was on vocal fire...that happens when you sing too many heavy roles. That's unfortunate.

[Alicuche2]

Wich of them is sesto bruscantini?

[pgray380]

From left to right...Kesling, Moser, Dubinbaum, Rendall, Berberian, Bruscatini, Darrenkamp. By the way, David Rendall is married to the great British mezzo, Diana Montague.

[jmass3856]

Ms. Dubinbaum is a highly successful teacher and the co-founder of the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera. The personality rumors were begun and perpetuated by a competitor's agent. Wouldn't you have been threatened by her talent?

[shivastotravali]

No disrespect intended, she was a great talent (Schwarzkopf, who would stop singers after just one phrase in master classes, would simply shrug her shoulders and gesture in Dubinbaum's direction when she was done, as if to say, "I have nothing to add"), and may well have mellowed out considerably in the ensuing years, but I witnessed her in rehearsal and she wasn't exactly a piece of cake at the time. Then again, I think the director was driving her nuts, and we all have our bad days. :-)

[jmass3856]

Ms. Dubinbaum is a highly successful teacher and the co-founder of the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera. The personality rumors were begun and perpetuated by a competitor's agent. Wouldn't you have been threatened by her talent?

[shivastotravali]

I have tremendous respect for Edda Moser, and she usually knocks my socks off, but what is she doing here? It sounds like hooting; I guess Jabe88 is right that she was past her prime, too bad. This was also the last time I saw or heard of Gail Dubinbaum until just recently. Extremely talented woman, and I actually expected her to be what Jennifer Larmore or Joyce Di Donato turned out to be. But she was also a somewhat difficult personality, so maybe that got in the way of a successful career?

[Jabe88]

As weird as it might be, she was only in her mid 40s, yet her voice became coarse.

In an interview she said she fall very very ill in the late 70s, and that she could have died because of it. She also had major hormonal issues at an early age.

So I guess this explains it!

[Jabe88]

she fell*

[RossiniSoprano]

I've sung this piece many times. It lies RIGHT in my passagio....those Gs, over and over, are just killing!

[Jabe88]

Do you have the video of Joan Sutherland from this Gala?

[SueAnnNivens]

Yes, I do, I think it was posted by spectrum3, with the green dress singing bel raggio.

[Jabe88]

Thanks a lot for the reply!

[Jabe88]

I don't know why and how, but Edda Moser melts my heart...

[RVP57]

I remember seeing this live on TV that great day n 1983. Thanks so much for posting it. A sheer delight!

[ravenjaw]

What a phenomenal post. James Levine, in all of his delectable splendor, leading such an esteemed cast of characters.

Ara Berberian definitely stood out for me with his imitation bass drum. In fact, Berberian went on to have a distinguished career that included MET performances until the mid-1990s.

[harryartin]

You can't imagine how happy I was to see this. Of course, I saw it during it's initial airing. My father is the basso Ara Berberian who unexpectedly passed away in 2005. My brother shared this video with me and it brought tears to my eyes. I hope everyone enjoyed this treasure.

[RVP57]

I loved your father's singing, and we are fortunate to have this lovely, delightful sample of his art.

[alanle4444]

This was the Met Centennial Gala, 10/22/83 8 hour TV and Radio thru Europe and the US with 100 of the world's leading singers. Four hours were subsequently released on DVD. Most of the performances can be found on UTube. This video features from L2R Diane Kesling, Edda Moser, Gail Dubinbaum, David Rendall, Ara Berberian, Sesto Bruscantini and John Darrenkamp. Berberian, who turns himself into a bass drum, now at the end of his Met career, got tremendous accolades for his performance.

[hisimperialmajesty]

Does anybody know when this was? Judging by the color (and amount) of Maestro Levine's hair, it must have been a while ago...heehee. I'm not sure about the soprano. She seems talented, but she also seems to be lacking self-confidence. I enjoyed it on the whole, though.

[Jabe88]

Well this is Edda Moser past her prime (1980s).

She's a very great soprano IMHO.

You should listen to her singing Mozart though, it's her speciality!

[radicalclassic]

This is just wonderful. What a difficult piece of music to perform. Edda Moser is great in this video; I like her high C in the end. Also, I like Levine's smile in the end.

[ChuckNYC71]

I would have given anything to see Edda Moser singing the Queen of the Night live.. can you imagine!! Huge dramatic coloratura voice.

[claudioalexenrique]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece of Rossinian music which sparkles with such beautiful Rossinian voices, and the MET orchestra under the baton of James Levine.