I always look forward to tuning in to this broadcast when it pops up on the Met's channel on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. It does have some high and low points but two singers in particular elevate the performance. Cesare Siepi is in superb voice throughout and even manages negotiate some awkward phrases in Act One as his big aria "Infelice" is inexplicably shifted to Act Two. His phrasing is appropriately noble and his rich, resonant voice make for a terrific protagonist. Del Monaco takes a few minutes to get warmed up but isn't in top form for much of the performance, even getting drowned out by Siepi a couple of times in the thrilling duet with chorus that ends Act Two, a rare feat. I normally enjoy Zinka's singing but this isn't her best afternoon best I'm afraid. Moments of agitation find her singing pretty squally. The hero of the performance is Leonard Warren, who is in stunning form. He caresses phrases with elegance and absolutely owns Act Three. O dei verd'anni miei is beautifully sung and capped off with a thunderous A flat. The villain of the performance is Dimitri Mitropoulos, an excellent symphonic conductor, whose trips to the opera house could be hit or miss. This is a big miss. The pit and stage are often poorly coordinated, nowhere more so than at the start of O sommo Carlo, where he, the harp soloist and Warren take forever to settle on a tempo. Warren wins. Some ups and downs but on the whole, a great performance, thanks to Warren and Siepi. Thanks for posting!
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I always look forward to tuning in to this broadcast when it pops up on the Met's channel on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. It does have some high and low points but two singers in particular elevate the performance. Cesare Siepi is in superb voice throughout and even manages negotiate some awkward phrases in Act One as his big aria "Infelice" is inexplicably shifted to Act Two. His phrasing is appropriately noble and his rich, resonant voice make for a terrific protagonist. Del Monaco takes a few minutes to get warmed up but isn't in top form for much of the performance, even getting drowned out by Siepi a couple of times in the thrilling duet with chorus that ends Act Two, a rare feat. I normally enjoy Zinka's singing but this isn't her best afternoon best I'm afraid. Moments of agitation find her singing pretty squally. The hero of the performance is Leonard Warren, who is in stunning form. He caresses phrases with elegance and absolutely owns Act Three. O dei verd'anni miei is beautifully sung and capped off with a thunderous A flat. The villain of the performance is Dimitri Mitropoulos, an excellent symphonic conductor, whose trips to the opera house could be hit or miss. This is a big miss. The pit and stage are often poorly coordinated, nowhere more so than at the start of O sommo Carlo, where he, the harp soloist and Warren take forever to settle on a tempo. Warren wins. Some ups and downs but on the whole, a great performance, thanks to Warren and Siepi. Thanks for posting!