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

Historic performance Met debut Miss Price and Mr. Corelli January 27, 1961

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Opera
• Verdi
• Il
• Trovatore
• Leonora
• Leontyne
• Price
• Manrico
• Franco
• Corelli

[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.

[paulostroff99]

Stunning debut! OMG 42 min. applause! Brava!

[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. :-)

[htshoward]

@Aetion Bravo that comment. Well said!

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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!