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A group of people in costumes standing on a stage, captured in a captivating streaming performance.

Streaming the First Century

Session 3: Italian Roots

Explore Streaming the First Century, San Francisco Opera’s historic archival recording release.

Like so many Italian singers of the early- and mid-twentieth century, Del Monaco knew how to sing forcefully and dramatically, emphasizing words and conveying emotion without yelling. ... This is evident in the flow of Bastianini’s “Prologue” as well as Del Monaco’s first aria ... Holding her own with these superstars is the American singer Marilyn Horne at a turning point in her career. From Nedda’s first utterances we notice the warm and easy sound, suggesting a sensual person. 
Judith Malafronte (on Pagliacci, 1962)

 In San Francisco Opera’s 1977 production of Turandot, conducted by 24-year-old prodigy Riccardo Chailly, the lead roles were sung by two of the opera world’s biggest superstars, both in their prime and admired above all for the sheer sensuous beauty of their voices: 44-year-old Spaniard Montserrat Caballé and 42-year-old Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti.
Mark Burford (on Turandot, 1977)


Historic Audio Recordings

PAGLIACCI

COMPLETE RECORDING

PAGLIACCI, Ruggero Leoncavallo

October 13, 1962 Audience recording
Oliviero De Fabritiis, conductor
(run time 1 hour and 9 minutes)

Two powerhouse singers of the Italian tradition, tenor Mario Del Monaco and baritone Ettore Bastianini, feature in this performance that also introduces a young superstar on the rise, Marilyn Horne, in the soprano role of Nedda.

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TURANDOT

COMPLETE RECORDING

TURANDOT, Giacomo Puccini

November 4, 1977 Broadcast
Riccardo Chailly, conductor
(run time 2 hours and 58 minutes)

Each singing their parts for the first time, soprano Montserrat Caballé, tenor Luciano Pavarotti, and soprano Leona Mitchell bring vocal opulence and dramatic excitement to this famous San Francisco Opera performance.

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TOSCA

EXCERPT RECORDING

TOSCA, Giacomo Puccini

October 15, 1932 Broadcast
Gaetano Merola, conductor
(run time ~ 6 minutes)

The inaugural performance in the War Memorial Opera House. This rare broadcast of Puccini’s Tosca stars Claudia Muzio with Company founder Gaetano Merola conducting.

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ANDREA CHÉNIER

EXCERPT RECORDING

ANDREA CHÉNIER, Umberto Giordano

October 7, 1938 Broadcast
Gaetano Merola, conductor
(run time ~ 8 minutes)

Few broadcast fragments can match the frisson and vocal intensity of this one when Italian tenor Beniamino Gigli’s passionate singing brings the house down on opening night of the 1938 Season.

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IL TROVATORE

EXCERPT RECORDING

IL TROVATORE, Giuseppe Verdi

October 26, 1971 Audience recording
Carlo Felice Cillario, conductor
(run time ~ 9 minutes)

The artistry of Leontyne Price, who made her American debut with San Francisco Opera in 1957, is in scintillating form in this performance of one of her greatest roles, Leonora in Verdi’s Il Trovatore.

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LA FORZA DEL DESTINO

EXCERPT RECORDING

LA FORZA DEL DESTINO, Giuseppe Verdi

November 2005 House recording
Nicola Luisotti, conductor
(run time ~ 3 minutes)

Nicola Luisotti made his house debut conducting this performance of Verdi’s La Forza del Destino. The dynamic and kinetic force heard in the overture alone presage his work as Company music director from 2009–2018.

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