RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Stivender; MacNeil, Blegen, Alexander, Hines, Jones
Original Air Date: 03/03/1979
SID.20120101
This is MacNeil’s final Met broadcast of the title role– he has the house record at 102 (5 broadcasts); Sirius should roll out MacNeil’s first Rigoletto broadcast from 1960, when he is really in super-baritone form or even 1964 with Bergonzi’s first Duke broadcast. Blegen is tied for fourth after Peters (88!!!!!! one for every piano key), Pons, and Swenson who are tied for second. Blegen’s earlier broadcast is on Met Opera on Demand (MOoD) and she is one of my favorite Gildas. Alexander is a dependable Duke, but he has some stiff competition . He was a fine musician, marvelous colleague, and sustained among the most-wide ranging Met repertoire (and without need of transpositions). A very favored colleague of Sutherland, Caballe, Sills, and Levine.