Re: Is Caruso overrated?

REG: I recall her have no problems whatsoever. What I do recall is the
marvelous feminine sound I mentioned before as not really being captured on
recordings...at least not to these ears.

Christoff was a wonderful actor who could handle any situation on
stage...and seem the part. I recall the audience laughing a great deal
during the performance...I saw him from the 'high seats' or upper
balcony...which was all I could afford back then. (It was fortunate for me
that my mother appreciated my love of the arts and encouraged me to go as
often as possible.) But the sound carried beautifully and that's the reason
I was there in the first place...although initially I was drawn in more by
the orchestral music than the singing...that soon changed to a healthy
appreciation of both...along with the other aspects of this incredible art
form of 'Grand Opera'.

I was very fortunate to have worked chorus with Christoff at LOC...I
remember him as being very polite to me (a very young man) and the eye he
seemed to have for the ladies.

Which brings to mind that I also saw Ghiaurov's 'Basilio' nearly 40 years
later.

Jon E. Szostak, Sr.




"REG" <Richergar@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:lN5xf.40$qT.13@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Thanks, Jon - it is absolutely a golden age cast for the Barber, though I
> wonder how Simionato handled the fioritura - did Christoff show any
> capacity for humor as Basilio, as you remember?
>
> And what a cast for the Fidelio!!!
>> ===========
>>
>> Il barbiere di Siviglia (Gioacchino Rossini)
>> Nov. 15, 18, 20, 24. / In Italian
>> Fiorello.....................Bernard Izzo
>> Count Almaviva.........Luigi Alva
>> Figaro........................Sesto Bruscantini
>> Bartolo.......................Fernando Corena
>> Rosina........................Giulietta Simionato
>> Basilio........................Boris Christoff
>> Berta..........................Vera Magrini
>> Sergeant....................Lloyd Harris
>> Conductor..................Carlo Felice Cillario
>> Stage Director............Enrico Frigerio
>> Chorus Master............Michael Lepore
>> ===========
>> COMPANY PREMIERE
>> Fidelio (Ludwig von Beethoven)
>> Nov. 13, 17, 22. / In German
>> Jacquino......................Richard Carl Knoll
>> Marzelline...................Irmgard Seefried
>> Rocco..........................William Wildermann
>> Leonore.......................Brigit Nilsson
>> Don Pizarro.................Hans Hotter
>> Prisoner.......................Robert Smith
>> Prisoner.......................Jeffrey Wolfe
>> Florestan......................Jon Vickers
>> Don Fernando...............Walter Berry
>> Conductor.....................Peter Maag
>> Stage Director...............Christopher West
>> Chorus Master...............Michael Lepore
>>
>> What I remember is a very enjoyable evening hearing Simionato and the
>> others. Perhaps it was this role which caught the feminine sound I
>> remember...but that was 1961...some time ago. Now promise not to haunt
>> me...please.
>>
>> Jon E. Szostak, Sr.
>>
>>
>>
>> "REG" <Richergar@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:MOYwf.16$qT.15@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> If you are going to do this, Jon, you HAVE to tell us about hearing
>>> Simionato, or I will haunt you....


.

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