Tag Archives: Mario Del Monaco

Il Tabarro

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 23rd March 2014

Here is a complete performance recorded more than a half century ago of Puccini’s realistic one act opera Il Tabarro. Robert Merrill heads a cast that could not be matched today. This opera and its two partners will soon be 100 years old. Originally dismissed as a Grand Guignol thriller with little substance. It has gotten…


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Or Son Sei Mesi

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 19th September 2010

Puccini’s cowboy opera, La Fanciulla del West, is returning to the Met this season after an absence of 17 years. 2010 is the 100th anniversary of the opera’s world premiere at the Met. Emmy Destinn and Enrico Caruso sang the leads under the direction of Arturo Toscanini. Puccini supervised the production which was directed by…


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La vita è inferno all’infelice…O tu che seno agli angeli

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 8th May 2010

Verdi’s apotheosis to misery and self pity is one of opera’s greatest arias. The recitative which starts the scena is better than most composers’ best arias. The aria itself is sublime. It requires an extraordinary tenor to bring it off. For no reason other than I like it so much here are three performances of…


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Merry Christmas

Written by Neil Kurtzman | 25th December 2009

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnSaG8gGzbw&feature=related] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FKblLRobD0] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33nTnawq6jk&feature=related]


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