TOSCA Puccini
Original Air Date: 04/11/1959
Adler; Steber, Bergonzi, London
SID.18500211
This is Steber’s last Tosca in the house (the next 3 are on tour), and only her third with the Met. She is not Tebaldi (whose Tosca I consider the absolute standard, and lucky for the Met to have captured it in full flight). Steber, however, is no shrinking violet, and she was on quite a roll during this period opening 1959 with the second season of Vanessa, a distinguished Donna Anna broadcast (on Met Player with London and Bohm in the pit), the Met premiere of Wozzeck, and wrapping up with a pair of Toscas, this one strongly cast with Bergonzi and London. Luckily in addition to Sirius this week, it’s on Met Player.