MANON LESCAUT:Puccini
Antonicelli; Kirsten, Björling, Valdengo, Baccaloni
Original Air Date: 12/10/1949
MOD Audio
SID.20040319
One of the all-time great Met broadcasts. Sound is not perfect, but it is a thrilling performance. Bjorling is also great in 1956 with Albanese, and luckily both are in MOoD. No better way to pass the time. This is one of the earliest broadcasts regularly in Sirius rotation and also in MOoD. The 1956 (also in MOoD) with Albenese under Mitropoulos is a more dramatic performance, but BJorling is fantastic on both. Valdengo is a fine Lescaut. This would be THE Manon Lescaut if Bjorling’s 1956 Met broadcast with Albanese had not been broadcast. If ever there were a candidate for the Sony reissue list, the 1956 performance is it. Still, Kirsten and Bjorling are plenty fine, and nothing like it to be heard today.
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