2019 Summer HD Festival

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/11/1999
Müller; Swenson, Vargas, Nucci, Pertusi
SID.19390103
Vargas did some very nice early Edgardos at the Met (I remember one with Futral) and Nucci should also be a strong Enrico. This is the second season for Swenson in a Nicholas Joel production she premiered which replaced the disastrous Zambello production. Solid support from the male contingent for her. If they’re going to put Anderson in MOoD (with Leech and Fu), Swenson should be as well, and this is a stronger male cast.

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Original Air Date: 12/11/1999
Müller; Swenson, Vargas, Nucci, Pertusi
SID.19390424
Vargas did some very nice early Edgardos at the Met (I remember one with Futral) and Nucci should also be a strong Enrico. This is the second season for Swenson in a Nicholas Joel production she premiered which replaced the disastrous Zambello production. Solid support from the male contingent for her. If they’re going to put Anderson in MOoD (with Leech and Fu), Swenson should be as well, and this is a stronger male cast.

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR:Donizetti
Müller; Swenson, Vargas, Nucci, Pertusi
Original Air Date: 12/11/1999

SID.19390640
Vargas did some very nice early Edgardos at the Met (I remember one with Futral) and Nucci should also be a strong Enrico. This is the second season for Swenson in a Nicholas Joel production she premiered which replaced the disastrous Zambello production. Solid support from the male contingent for her. If they’re going to put Anderson in MOoD (with Leech and Fu), Swenson should be as well, and this is a stronger male cast.

I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Chaslin; Radvanovsky, Casanova, Nucci, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/11/2004
MOD Audio
SID.19450102
Elena was a major breakout role for Radvanovsky, and she was the deserved star of this revival. Nucci, who has appeared irregularly but continuously since his debut in 1980 last appeared at the Met in this 2004 broadcast where he is in fine voice as he was on the Nabucco broadcast six months earlier (prior season). His current engagements show him as busy as any Verdi baritone before the public with an appearance in January 2016 at La Scala as Rigoletto with Nadine Sierra, where they encored the Si, vendetta duet (!!!!). Casanova has good style in arguably Verdi’s most challenging tenor part. This revival catches Ramey after the wobble had started to set in (I date at around 2002). He’s still very commanding, but it’s just a bit too late to be top quality. Procida is one of the greatest of Verdi bass roles right up there with Fiesco, if not quite at the level of Filippo II. Chaslin conducts a well prepared performance, and so nice to have this performance in the Sirius rotation. With Radvanovsky’s new status, this performance should be added to MOoD. This is true two years ago, and is still the case.

I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Chaslin; Radvanovsky, Casanova, Nucci, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/11/2004
MOD Audio
SID.19450425
Elena was a major breakout role for Radvanovsky, and she was the deserved star of this revival. Nucci, who has appeared irregularly but continuously since his debut in 1980 last appeared at the Met in this 2004 broadcast where he is in fine voice as he was on the Nabucco broadcast six months earlier (prior season). His current engagements show him as busy as any Verdi baritone before the public with an appearance in January 2016 at La Scala as Rigoletto with Nadine Sierra, where they encored the Si, vendetta duet (!!!!). Casanova has good style in arguably Verdi’s most challenging tenor part. This revival catches Ramey after the wobble had started to set in (I date at around 2002). He’s still very commanding, but it’s just a bit too late to be top quality. Procida is one of the greatest of Verdi bass roles right up there with Fiesco, if not quite at the level of Filippo II. Chaslin conducts a well prepared performance, and so nice to have this performance in the Sirius rotation. With Radvanovsky’s new status, this performance should be added to MOoD. This is true two years ago, and is still the case.

I VESPRI SICILIANI:Verdi
Chaslin; Radvanovsky, Casanova, Nucci, Ramey
Original Air Date: 12/11/2004
MOD Audio
SID.19450748
Elena was a major breakout role for Radvanovsky, and she was the deserved star of this revival. Nucci, who has appeared irregularly but continuously since his debut in 1980 last appeared at the Met in this 2004 broadcast where he is in fine voice as he was on the Nabucco broadcast six months earlier (prior season). His current engagements show him as busy as any Verdi baritone before the public with an appearance in January 2016 at La Scala as Rigoletto with Nadine Sierra, where they encored the Si, vendetta duet (!!!!). Casanova has good style in arguably Verdi’s most challenging tenor part. This revival catches Ramey after the wobble had started to set in (I date at around 2002). He’s still very commanding, but it’s just a bit too late to be top quality. Procida is one of the greatest of Verdi bass roles right up there with Fiesco, if not quite at the level of Filippo II. Chaslin conducts a well prepared performance, and so nice to have this performance in the Sirius rotation. With Radvanovsky’s new status, this performance should be added to MOoD. This is true two years ago, and is still the case.

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Patanè; Pavarotti, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Peters, Payne
Original Air Date: 03/01/1980
MOD Video
SID.19470209
New Production for Pavarotti had been telecast two weeks earlier with Quilico for Nucci, Berini for Payne, and Blegen for Peters. Patane is a fine conductor. I think Amelia is a little heavy for Ricciarelli– her best outing in this role is a San Francisco broadcast with Carreras. Ricciarelli, Pavarotti under Patane appear in a video with Quilico, Berini, and Blegen from the same run. I generally prefer the supporting cast that is on the video, and that is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD), formerly Met Player. Riccardo was one of LP’s best roles, and Patane is a solid conductor. Ricciarelli is a bit light for Amelia, but she has a most successful San Francisco outing (maybe Chicago too?) with Carreras. The telecast which comes before the broadcast features Quilico, Berini, and Blegen in the supporting parts. Patane is a solid, idiomatic conductor. Payne isn’t much, it’s starting to get late for Peters, but this is Nucci’s debut season, and he appears as late as 2004 as a strong Monforte in Vespri Siciliani. He premiered a new production of Nabucco at Covent Garden in 2013, which is his most frequent assumption on a calendar that is rather full through October 2017!!! He still has in his repertoire Miller, Boccanegra, Giorgio Germont, and Rigoletto at La Scala this past January with upcoming dates in Budapest and Madrid. No dates on this side of the Atlantic, but 26 years after his Met debut, and at the age of 74, he’s only a year younger than Domingo.Ricciarelli is a bit light for Amelia, but she has a most successful San Francisco outing (maybe Chicago too?) with Carreras. The telecast which comes before the broadcast features Quilico, Berini, and Blegen in the supporting parts is available on DVD and in MOoD. Patane is a solid, idiomatic conductor. Payne isn’t much, it’s starting to get late for Peters, but this is Nucci’s debut season, and he appears at the Met as late as 2004 as a strong Monforte in Vespri Siciliani. He premiered a new production of Nabucco at Covent Garden in 2013, which is his most frequent assumption on a calendar that is rather full through October 2017!!! He still has in his repertoire Miller, Boccanegra, Giorgio Germont, and Rigoletto at La Scala with upcoming dates in Budapest and Madrid. No dates on this side of the Atlantic, but 26 years after his Met debut, and at the age of 74, he’sonly a year younger than Domingo. MOD is 2/16/80 performance with Patanè; Ricciarelli, Blegen, Berini, Pavarotti, Quilico

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Patanè; Pavarotti, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Peters, Payne
Original Air Date: 03/01/1980
MOD Video
SID.19470426
New Production for Pavarotti had been telecast two weeks earlier with Quilico for Nucci, Berini for Payne, and Blegen for Peters. Patane is a fine conductor. I think Amelia is a little heavy for Ricciarelli– her best outing in this role is a San Francisco broadcast with Carreras. Ricciarelli, Pavarotti under Patane appear in a video with Quilico, Berini, and Blegen from the same run. I generally prefer the supporting cast that is on the video, and that is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD), formerly Met Player. Riccardo was one of LP’s best roles, and Patane is a solid conductor. Ricciarelli is a bit light for Amelia, but she has a most successful San Francisco outing (maybe Chicago too?) with Carreras. The telecast which comes before the broadcast features Quilico, Berini, and Blegen in the supporting parts. Patane is a solid, idiomatic conductor. Payne isn’t much, it’s starting to get late for Peters, but this is Nucci’s debut season, and he appears as late as 2004 as a strong Monforte in Vespri Siciliani. He premiered a new production of Nabucco at Covent Garden in 2013, which is his most frequent assumption on a calendar that is rather full through October 2017!!! He still has in his repertoire Miller, Boccanegra, Giorgio Germont, and Rigoletto at La Scala this past January with upcoming dates in Budapest and Madrid. No dates on this side of the Atlantic, but 26 years after his Met debut, and at the age of 74, he’s only a year younger than Domingo.Ricciarelli is a bit light for Amelia, but she has a most successful San Francisco outing (maybe Chicago too?) with Carreras. The telecast which comes before the broadcast features Quilico, Berini, and Blegen in the supporting parts is available on DVD and in MOoD. Patane is a solid, idiomatic conductor. Payne isn’t much, it’s starting to get late for Peters, but this is Nucci’s debut season, and he appears at the Met as late as 2004 as a strong Monforte in Vespri Siciliani. He premiered a new production of Nabucco at Covent Garden in 2013, which is his most frequent assumption on a calendar that is rather full through October 2017!!! He still has in his repertoire Miller, Boccanegra, Giorgio Germont, and Rigoletto at La Scala with upcoming dates in Budapest and Madrid. No dates on this side of the Atlantic, but 26 years after his Met debut, and at the age of 74, he’sonly a year younger than Domingo. MOD is 2/16/80 performance with Patanè; Ricciarelli, Blegen, Berini, Pavarotti, Quilico

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Patanè; Pavarotti, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Peters, Payne
Original Air Date: 03/01/1980
MOD Video
SID.19470743
New Production for Pavarotti had been telecast two weeks earlier with Quilico for Nucci, Berini for Payne, and Blegen for Peters. Patane is a fine conductor. I think Amelia is a little heavy for Ricciarelli– her best outing in this role is a San Francisco broadcast with Carreras. Ricciarelli, Pavarotti under Patane appear in a video with Quilico, Berini, and Blegen from the same run. I generally prefer the supporting cast that is on the video, and that is available in Met Opera on Demand (MOoD), formerly Met Player. Riccardo was one of LP’s best roles, and Patane is a solid conductor. Ricciarelli is a bit light for Amelia, but she has a most successful San Francisco outing (maybe Chicago too?) with Carreras. The telecast which comes before the broadcast features Quilico, Berini, and Blegen in the supporting parts. Patane is a solid, idiomatic conductor. Payne isn’t much, it’s starting to get late for Peters, but this is Nucci’s debut season, and he appears as late as 2004 as a strong Monforte in Vespri Siciliani. He premiered a new production of Nabucco at Covent Garden in 2013, which is his most frequent assumption on a calendar that is rather full through October 2017!!! He still has in his repertoire Miller, Boccanegra, Giorgio Germont, and Rigoletto at La Scala this past January with upcoming dates in Budapest and Madrid. No dates on this side of the Atlantic, but 26 years after his Met debut, and at the age of 74, he’s only a year younger than Domingo.Ricciarelli is a bit light for Amelia, but she has a most successful San Francisco outing (maybe Chicago too?) with Carreras. The telecast which comes before the broadcast features Quilico, Berini, and Blegen in the supporting parts is available on DVD and in MOoD. Patane is a solid, idiomatic conductor. Payne isn’t much, it’s starting to get late for Peters, but this is Nucci’s debut season, and he appears at the Met as late as 2004 as a strong Monforte in Vespri Siciliani. He premiered a new production of Nabucco at Covent Garden in 2013, which is his most frequent assumption on a calendar that is rather full through October 2017!!! He still has in his repertoire Miller, Boccanegra, Giorgio Germont, and Rigoletto at La Scala with upcoming dates in Budapest and Madrid. No dates on this side of the Atlantic, but 26 years after his Met debut, and at the age of 74, he’sonly a year younger than Domingo. MOD is 2/16/80 performance with Patanè; Ricciarelli, Blegen, Berini, Pavarotti, Quilico

LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20020105
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.

LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20020315
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.

LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20020423
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.

LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Ricciarelli, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Cheek, Berini
Original Air Date: 01/23/1982
MOD Audio
SID.20020749
Luisa is probably Ricciarelli’s best role, and is well suited to the lyricism as well as technical skill for this part. This performance is also available in MOoD and one I highly recommend, even if Santi is rather lethargic at some critical points. Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among Verdi’s greatest inspirations.

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Guadagno; Neblett, Peters, Berini, Anthony, Bergonzi, Franke, Nucci, Darrenkamp, Robbins, Vernon
Original Air Date: 02/19/1983

SID.20070424
This is Bergonzi’s signature role and his final Met broadcast of a complete opera, but he is better enjoyed on either the the 1962 or 1966 Ballos. His 1981 is also with Berini and Peters, but Milnes for Nucci. More importantly Cruz-Romo is a stronger Amelia than Neblett, but she is heard to even better advantage in 1973 with Tucker, a younger Milnes, and Dalis. Guadagno was a familar figure in Philadelphia and Miami as well as the Verona arena. This is his only Met season. Not sure of the circumstances but guess he just didn’t fit in. He’s on a number of airchecks from opera houses around the world with the top echelon of singers, Corelli, Tebaldi, etc.

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Guadagno; Neblett, Peters, Berini, Anthony, Bergonzi, Franke, Nucci, Darrenkamp, Robbins, Vernon
Original Air Date: 02/19/1983

SID.20070640
This is Bergonzi’s signature role and his final Met broadcast of a complete opera, but he is better enjoyed on either the the 1962 or 1966 Ballos. His 1981 is also with Berini and Peters, but Milnes for Nucci. More importantly Cruz-Romo is a stronger Amelia than Neblett, but she is heard to even better advantage in 1973 with Tucker, a younger Milnes, and Dalis. Guadagno was a familar figure in Philadelphia and Miami as well as the Verona arena. This is his only Met season. Not sure of the circumstances but guess he just didn’t fit in. He’s on a number of airchecks from opera houses around the world with the top echelon of singers, Corelli, Tebaldi, etc.

RIGOLETTO:Verdi
Santi; Swenson, Philley, Uecker, Shaulis, White, Leech, Anthony, Nucci, Croft, Held, Bater, Tian, Rootering 
Original Air Date: 03/07/1992

SID.20070746
This is a reasonable time period for these singers who do have voices sufficient for the roles (not always true!!!!) What is not quite so understandable is the number of appearances in MOoD for Nucci compared to Bumbry.

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA:Verdi
Guadagno; Neblett, Peters, Berini, Anthony, Bergonzi, Franke, Nucci, Darrenkamp, Robbins, Vernon
Original Air Date: 02/19/1983

SID.20070748
This is Bergonzi’s signature role and his final Met broadcast of a complete opera, but he is better enjoyed on either the the 1962 or 1966 Ballos. His 1981 is also with Berini and Peters, but Milnes for Nucci. More importantly Cruz-Romo is a stronger Amelia than Neblett, but she is heard to even better advantage in 1973 with Tucker, a younger Milnes, and Dalis. Guadagno was a familar figure in Philadelphia and Miami as well as the Verona arena. This is his only Met season. Not sure of the circumstances but guess he just didn’t fit in. He’s on a number of airchecks from opera houses around the world with the top echelon of singers, Corelli, Tebaldi, etc.

LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Esperian, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Koptchak, White
Original Air Date: 03/02/1991

SID.20100214
Luisa Miller has done well on the air, although not entering the broadcast repertory of the Met until 1968. The title role has been taken on the airwaves by Caballe, Maliponte (not yet on Sirius!), Scotto, Ricciarelli, and Millo prior to this broadcast; for the tenor role, Tucker, Domingo, Pavarotti (in 1982 with Ricciarelli) led the way. The 1982 performance is also conducted by Santi and features Nucci and Plishka as well. The 1982 performance is on MOoD and I am listening to Tu puniscimi right now. The question is whether Esperian is to be preferred. For my money what I want to hear is either Caballe or Millo or Maliponte who simply have more of a measure of the music than Ricciarelli who has the right equipment, but not sure if she has the right technique. Esperian is even less gifted singer. Either way, Santi’s conducting is too lax for my taste as it was in the house. Levine is a far better Luisa conductor. For my money Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among the greatest acts in the Verdi canon This is the second of Pavarotti’s two broadcast Rodolfos. His 1982 also with Santi ( NO) and Nucci has Ricciarelli in the title role. It’s her most congenial role for a singer who had a short prime but not a short career. The 1982 version with KR is available on MOoD. It’s a good role for Pavarotti, but better to hear the earlier version; one of my favorite early Verdi works, and the last act is as good as anything he ever wrote. — Better to hear Pavarotti with Ricciarelli nine years earlier, also with Nucci and Santi and that is on Met Player.

LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Esperian, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Koptchak, White
Original Air Date: 03/02/1991

SID.20100531
Luisa Miller has done well on the air, although not entering the broadcast repertory of the Met until 1968. The title role has been taken on the airwaves by Caballe, Maliponte (not yet on Sirius!), Scotto, Ricciarelli, and Millo prior to this broadcast; for the tenor role, Tucker, Domingo, Pavarotti (in 1982 with Ricciarelli) led the way. The 1982 performance is also conducted by Santi and features Nucci and Plishka as well. The 1982 performance is on MOoD and I am listening to Tu puniscimi right now. The question is whether Esperian is to be preferred. For my money what I want to hear is either Caballe or Millo or Maliponte who simply have more of a measure of the music than Ricciarelli who has the right equipment, but not sure if she has the right technique. Esperian is even less gifted singer. Either way, Santi’s conducting is too lax for my taste as it was in the house. Levine is a far better Luisa conductor. For my money Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among the greatest acts in the Verdi canon This is the second of Pavarotti’s two broadcast Rodolfos. His 1982 also with Santi ( NO) and Nucci has Ricciarelli in the title role. It’s her most congenial role for a singer who had a short prime but not a short career. The 1982 version with KR is available on MOoD. It’s a good role for Pavarotti, but better to hear the earlier version; one of my favorite early Verdi works, and the last act is as good as anything he ever wrote. — Better to hear Pavarotti with Ricciarelli nine years earlier, also with Nucci and Santi and that is on Met Player.

LUISA MILLER:Verdi
Santi; Esperian, Pavarotti, Nucci, Plishka, Koptchak, White
Original Air Date: 03/02/1991

SID.20100746
Luisa Miller has done well on the air, although not entering the broadcast repertory of the Met until 1968. The title role has been taken on the airwaves by Caballe, Maliponte (not yet on Sirius!), Scotto, Ricciarelli, and Millo prior to this broadcast; for the tenor role, Tucker, Domingo, Pavarotti (in 1982 with Ricciarelli) led the way. The 1982 performance is also conducted by Santi and features Nucci and Plishka as well. The 1982 performance is on MOoD and I am listening to Tu puniscimi right now. The question is whether Esperian is to be preferred. For my money what I want to hear is either Caballe or Millo or Maliponte who simply have more of a measure of the music than Ricciarelli who has the right equipment, but not sure if she has the right technique. Esperian is even less gifted singer. Either way, Santi’s conducting is too lax for my taste as it was in the house. Levine is a far better Luisa conductor. For my money Act 3 of Luisa Miller is among the greatest acts in the Verdi canon This is the second of Pavarotti’s two broadcast Rodolfos. His 1982 also with Santi ( NO) and Nucci has Ricciarelli in the title role. It’s her most congenial role for a singer who had a short prime but not a short career. The 1982 version with KR is available on MOoD. It’s a good role for Pavarotti, but better to hear the earlier version; one of my favorite early Verdi works, and the last act is as good as anything he ever wrote. — Better to hear Pavarotti with Ricciarelli nine years earlier, also with Nucci and Santi and that is on Met Player.

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Badea; Guleghina, Jóhannsson, Pola / Dessì, Martinucci, Nucci
Original Air Date: 02/04/1995

SID.20160209
Another Cavalleria of minimal interest– there must be something better in the archives. The Pagliacci does feature a qualified if not often encountered cast. Martinucci only has 25 performances in 7 seasons at the Met and this Canio is only 3 before his farewell. He has a very decent Fanciulla with Dimitrova, and is the Chenier on Milnes 25th anniversary broadcast. I saw him in Chicago in Gioconda, and he worked regularly in the top European houses I think for maybe another decade.

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Badea; Guleghina, Jóhannsson, Pola / Dessì, Martinucci, Nucci
Original Air Date: 02/04/1995

SID.20160427
Another Cavalleria of minimal interest– there must be something better in the archives. The Pagliacci does feature a qualified if not often encountered cast. Martinucci only has 25 performances in 7 seasons at the Met and this Canio is only 3 before his farewell. He has a very decent Fanciulla with Dimitrova, and is the Chenier on Milnes 25th anniversary broadcast. I saw him in Chicago in Gioconda, and he worked regularly in the top European houses I think for maybe another decade.

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI:Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Badea; Guleghina, Jóhannsson, Pola / Dessì, Martinucci, Nucci
Original Air Date: 02/04/1995

SID.20160540
Another Cavalleria of minimal interest– there must be something better in the archives. The Pagliacci does feature a qualified if not often encountered cast. Martinucci only has 25 performances in 7 seasons at the Met and this Canio is only 3 before his farewell. He has a very decent Fanciulla with Dimitrova, and is the Chenier on Milnes 25th anniversary broadcast. I saw him in Chicago in Gioconda, and he worked regularly in the top European houses I think for maybe another decade.

LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
Levine; Price, Giacomini, Nucci, Giaiotti, Jones, Fissore
Original Air Date: 03/24/1984

SID.20170106
This is a 3 performance group intended to capture the Price Leonora on video ; fall performances had featured mostly Bumbry (with a few to Amara) partnering Carreras. This is a solid performance but I prefer Price a decade earlier with Bergonzi in 1972; her supporting cast are full-throated Italians (Paskalis is Greek, but Bergonzi and Siepi are Verdians to their fingertips and that is much the best of the 1970s. Giacomini in this 1984 performance gets some rare visibility, and deservedly so.

LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
Levine; Price, Giacomini, Nucci, Giaiotti, Jones, Fissore
Original Air Date: 03/24/1984

SID.20170425
This is a 3 performance group intended to capture the Price Leonora on video ; fall performances had featured mostly Bumbry (with a few to Amara) partnering Carreras. This is a solid performance but I prefer Price a decade earlier with Bergonzi in 1972; her supporting cast are full-throated Italians (Paskalis is Greek, but Bergonzi and Siepi are Verdians to their fingertips and that is much the best of the 1970s. Giacomini in this 1984 performance gets some rare visibility, and deservedly so.

LA FORZA DEL DESTINO:Verdi
Levine; Price, Giacomini, Nucci, Giaiotti, Jones, Fissore
Original Air Date: 03/24/1984

SID.20170756
This is a 3 performance group intended to capture the Price Leonora on video ; fall performances had featured mostly Bumbry (with a few to Amara) partnering Carreras. This is a solid performance but I prefer Price a decade earlier with Bergonzi in 1972; her supporting cast are full-throated Italians (Paskalis is Greek, but Bergonzi and Siepi are Verdians to their fingertips and that is much the best of the 1970s. Giacomini in this 1984 performance gets some rare visibility, and deservedly so.