DON CARLO

DON CARLO:Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/21/1984
Levine; Ciannella, Caballé, Bruson, Verrett, Plishka, Hines
SID.19380320
This performance is not on so often, and it is Bruson’s Met farewell–he is STILL singing!!! His Met debut was 15 years earlier on the broadcast Lucia with Moffo 2/1/69. He has a good sense of Verdian line, but I like a bit more squillo. Zancanaro is a tone more to my liking, but he always seemed to prefer fishing to visiting NYC. Caballe only has an opening night run of Toscas ahead of her (none broadcast), so this serves as her broadcast farewell. She’s a more uneven singer than when she arrived 20 years earlier, but only made it to 98 performances. She always seemed happier at Carnegie Hall and a music stand handy. At her best she could make some lovely sounds. Verrett is not in the first flush of youth either, but this cast — Ciannella excepted– are people well up to their roles, and since it is my favorite Verdian opera for sure and close to my all-time top, this performance makes a welcome addition to the week. Caballe’s first Elisabetta broadcast is from Bing’s final season (the one with the endlessly held B (I believe) with Bumbry, Siepi, Milnes, and Domingo which has not been on Sirius at all and except for the Scotto Troyanos video from 1980 there is nothing in the Met streaming service from 1964 (Rysanek, Corelli) till 1992, These two Caballe Don Carlos belong there. [Alas, the streaming service is still missing these Don Carlos]