Magda Olivero - Sola perduta abbandonata (1972 live) - happy 100th birthday!

As a tribute to this living legend on her 100th birthday, I would like to post an excerpt of her singing in the 2 June 1972 Caracas performance of Manon Lescaut.

Other cast members included Richard Tucker as Des Grieux and Vincente Sardinero as Lescaut.
Conductor was Michelangelo Veltri.

This was the only performance in which my favorite soprano and tenor of that era ever sang together (and in my favorite opera too!). Olivero was 62 and Tucker was 58, but these two titans of opera deliver one of the most electrifying performances I've ever heard. They are in my opinion the greatest Manon Lescaut and Des Grieux of whom we have a complete recording. Very few recordings have ever brought me to tears, but the first time I heard Olivero and Tucker sing Act 4 of THIS performance, I certainly used up a few tissues.

Again, happy 100th birthday to my favorite (along with Ponselle) soprano of all time, hope she sticks around for another 100 years!

*Since Tucker, who was equally amazing in this performance, isn't featured in this excerpt, I'll post some more highlights from this performance when I have time.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Magda
• Olivero
• Sola
• perduta
• abbandonata
• manon
• lescaut
• giacomo
• puccini
• 100
• birthday
• tribute
• richard
• tucker
• des
• grieux
• italian
• soprano
• tenor
• opera
• singing
• live

[eutuve]

Cannot believe I can't remember it..

I was living in Caracas by then..

Alzheimer is my brother ?

More info about that performance ?

Thanks..

[GermanOperaSinger]

@eutuve Everything you need to know about the performance (date, cast, conductor, location) is already in the info box.

[InBoccaChiusa]

Singers of her era spoke of the "sacred flame" which inspired their art. None was brighter than Magda Olivero's.

[racheleleeba]

Happy 100th birthday, Signorina Olivero!

[SiEtIn1]

oh my! this IS over the top, but it does send shivers down one´s spine! I wish I could witness this type of singing live

[peterdakay]

Since the history of recording The Greatest Singer. Happy Birthday Great Lady and many-many more.

[Kievest]

A more inspired, humble, and devout

servant of the art of the human voice

cannot be found!! She knew what all

truly great singers know....her talent

was a gift from a higher source and

must be dedicated to the MUSIC

first and the individual, a very distant

second! Happy Birthday #100 Magnifi-

cent Magda!!!

[nige1n1o]

Happy birthday Signora Olivero. The art of the great singer Ladies of XX century has her great exponent in this living legend

[LanzaLover2]

I am speechless! I had never heard of her. What an absolute TREASURE she is! Such clarity, the timbre of her voice is delicious. Such pure sound. Have never, ever heard this aria sung with so much meaning. Never. I'm going to seek out all her other arias on YT. Do you think I like her -- just a tad? Haha.

[sospello]

Compie oggi i suoi 100 anni di vita. Tanti auguri. Happy Birthday to the ageless Magda Olivero.

[VinylToVideo]

I had read some time ago she planned to perform on her 100th birthday. Hopefully we'll soon see that video.