The video below is an interview with Franco Corelli (1921-2003) made around 1990. It’s in Italian, but it has English subtitles. The interviewer is not the most facile; nevertheless, Corelli’s comments are very interesting. Besides being on the short list of the greatest tenors of the last century, he was a sensitive and intelligent commentator on the operatic world which he entered at the comparatively advanced age of 30.
He recounts the development of his career in some detail. He discusses at length his decision to make New York City his home. The preference for the city is reflected by the 369 performances he gave at the Met between 1961 and 1975. He did return to Italy for a few months every year, but New York was where he spent most of his time.
He mentions how he decided in 1975 to take some time off which eventually lengthened into full time retirement. Surprisingly he says that he never attended a performance at the Met after he stopped singing there and never even listened to a broadcast from the company. Though he did give an occasional masterclass, it was the vibrant cultural life of New York away from opera that attracted him.
There are many YouTube videos featuring Corelli. I thought this one was particularly interesting.
