Hello,

You may already be aware of the following, but just in case you aren't: 
There exists a "Mefistofele" recording with a cast similar to the memorable 
Philadelphia performance you mention.  That recording is of a "live" Chicago 
Lyric Opera performance dating from October 1965 and featuring Ghiaurov, 
Kraus, Tebaldi and Suliotis; the conductor is Nino Sanzogno.  The sound 
isn't bad, quite reasonable really.  It was issued on two CDs by an outfit 
that called itself "Great Opera Performances."  It shows up occasionally on 
eBay, through which I obtained my copy.  The CD booklet gives the 
performance date as 6 October 1965, but Davis "Opera in Chicago" in its 
rather cursory (and I have been told somewhat unreliable) chronology of 
performances gives "Mefistofele" as the season opener on 8 October 1965, 
with subsequent "Mefistofele" performances on 13, 16 and 18 October 1965. 
Ah the glorious Carol Fox days; she had successors at LO but no equals.

Russ Geschke


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Rideout" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 10:06 AM
Subject: Re: Singing the roles the voice loves


> Roberta
>
> I agree with you in the largest sense, but, it should be noted
> that Kraus did push those limits when he sang Faust in Boito's
> "Mefistofele", a role whose history leans much more to the
> spinto than the lyric. I saw it in Philadelphia, and, I have to say,
> he was wonderful. There was no sign of strain, which leads me
> to believe that he could have sung heavier music than we are
> accustomed to hearing. It was, incidentally, my first exposure to
> Nicolai Ghiaurov, and I'm still not over the magnificence of his
> voice that night, or his whistling, which brought 2000 people
> to their feet.
>
> Bob
>
> On Wednesday, January 25, 2017, R PRADA <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Roberta Peters and Alfredo Kraus stayed in their rep and had long careers
>> because of it.
>>
>> Kraus once sang a Rodolfo and immediately felt pressed. He cancelled the
>> rest of the run.
>>
>> Vocal smarts make or break a voice.  Never forget bad advice is a killer.
>>
>> Someone tells me I may have meant Aragall, not Araiza. Sounds right.
>>
>> RP
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> > On Jan 25, 2017, at 6:17 AM, OPERA-L automatic digest system <
>> [log in to unmask] <javascript:;>> wrote:
>> >
>> > Carreras
>>
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