Metropolitan Opera Gala CD

 A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
This is a brilliant record of highlights taken from a huge operatic concert at the Metropolitan Opera in 1972 before Levine's "artistic" control almost ran the institution aground in a sea of self-indulgence.
Submitted by princearcturis (Birmingham, Alabama) 
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 A Night of Home Runs
Here is a small sample of what things were like in 1972. The performances on this recording are consistantly brilliant, with the exeption of Leontyne Price who was not in good voice that night. Richard Tucker and Robert Merrill give a hellfire and thunder rendition of their duet from LA FORZA DEL DESTION, for example. The prize for over the top entertainment goes to Birgit Nilsson. Karl Bohm was able to let the orchestra howl and bray without fear of drowning her huge voice. Miss Nilsson's final scene from SALOME is far and away the most thrilling and bloodcurdling rendition of the piece that I have ever heard. If you only have this recording to judge by you might say that she was cra wling aroung the stage in delirium. I saw the film of highligths from the concert, which was made for a television special, during which she stood as still and solid as an oak made all the drama with her voice,and this after 1:00 a.m. at the very end of the concert! The ovation which came end of this started building like a wave during the last chords of the orchestra and then swelled into a wall of cheering which, on the recording sounds like ten times the 4,000 or so people in the auditorium. In so many words, this is fun.
Submitted by Gregory (Birmingham. Alabama, USA) 
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