Leontyne Price & James MacCracken "O terra addio" Aida

Metropolitan Opera. January 5, 1985

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Opera
• Verdi
• Aida
• Leontyne
• Price
• Rasdames
• MacCracken

[Otellomir]

So great the both of them even at the end of their careers. Near-definitive examples of their kind: Her a spinto soprano & him a heavy dramatic tenor with the rare ability to sing gently full-voice. Marvelous artists, idiosyncratic stylistically perhaps but with loads of personality, musicality & dignity. For my $ these 2 were ideally paired in their opposite & complimentary strengths & qualities. 2 of the greatest of all American operatic artists who succeeded & flourished in grand italian rep.

[LohengrinT]

Ive always thought Price's voice ideal for Aida... not too heavy, not too light, with easy high C6 and well supported low register And I dont think anyone else has sung the dreadful C6 of O patria mia more easily and freely than Price

[wildstoneflower]

Both great... she is one of the best!

[jorgepda]

what it must've been like to be present there that night.

[stevevandien]

@jmccracken1963 Yet if McCracken had developed an easier production, would he have remained such a powerful and exciting artist to the very end of his life? And to die at 61 while still singing leading tenor roles in a great opera house, AND continuing to do them justice -- well, there are many worse ways to go:).

[stevevandien]

@jmccracken1963 Certain critics pricked McCracken for his "strenuous voice production." He discussed this in some interviews ( "When I go for the high notes, I really GO for them"). Then again, not every major singer has a freely-flowing voice. For me, McCracken's vigorous production made his no-holds-barred style even more exciting. And I must say that I never heard outright STRAIN in his singing. I agree absolutely about "matching up." Would that it were so more often today!

[jmccracken1963]

@stevevandien And yet, one can only wonder how much his tone production contributed to the eventually-fatal stroke which he suffered 21 months later - and, as you can probably figure out from my user name, I have always been a BIG fan of his artistry. That said, casting Price and McCracken together in this opera was once again a good example of what used to be standard practice: casting singers of appropriate vocal weight for the role who would also "match up" well.

[fiercejarret]

@ShawDAMAN Wonder Who the Ameris was??? The Legendary Fiorenza Cossotto. One of the leading Mezzos of the 20th Century. That's who!

[crumb185]

They don't die! ^^ Yay!

I'm kidding. It's nice! =)

[ShawDAMAN]

Beautifully done all things considered.

Didn't really care for the Amneris here, wonder who she was... hehe

[stevevandien]

And good heavens, how I LOVE Price's voice -- not of course at her finest here, but even so, what a warm, rich, lovely sound:) --

[stevevandien]

I heard this live on PBS back on 1/5/1985. McCracken began the opera below his best -- amid reports that he'd been ill -- but he warmed up steadily and was doing very well by this, as was Price. McCracken remains the finest purely dramatic tenor (as opposed to spinto, lyric-dramatic, etc.) that the United States have produced. Hiis technique wasn't perfect (whose is?), but he always offered HUGE, powerful and heartfelt tone, buttressed by absolute dramatic conviction --