PaleyArchive ColorBars TopBanner2

LIVE FROM THE MET: THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
CENTENNIAL GALA I {TAPE 1 OF 2} (TV)

Summary

Tape one of two. The first concert in this special two-concert celebration of the Metropolitan Opera's 100th anniversary, hosted by Alexander Skourby, and featuring performances from some of opera's most celebrated singers, supported by the entire Metropolitan Opera repertory company (commentary provided by announcer Peter Allen). This program also includes the intermission screenings of documentary films that examine different chapters of the opera company's history, several short films that give a behind-the-scenes look at the Metropolitan Opera, and filmed greetings from absent opera singers. Following brief introductions by Allen and Skourby, the Met's general manager Anthony Bliss takes the stage to deliver a formal greeting to the audience. James Levine then conducts the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for the following performances: the overture from Bedrich Smetana's "The Bartered Bride"; Eva Marton's performance of "In questa reggia" from Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot"; the performance by Jessye Norman and Jess Thomas of the Act 1 Duet from Wagner's Die Walkure; Kiri Te Kawana's interpretation of "Dove sono" from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro"; a performance by Isola Jones, Shirley Love, Louise Wohlafka, Charles Anthony, and James Courtney of the Act II quintet from Georges Bizet's "Carmen"; James McCracken's performance of "Dio mi Potevi" from Giuseppe Verdi's "Otello"; a performance by Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart of "Bess you is my woman" from George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess"; and Regine Crespin's rendition of the Habanera from Bizet's "Carmen." In the concert's second segment, Richard Bonynge conducts the orchestra for Ruggero Raimondi's interpretation of "La calunnia" from Gioacchio Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia"; a performance by Roberta Peters, Loretta Di Franco, Dano Raffanti, Robert Nagy, Brian Schexnayder, and Julian Robbins of the sextet from Gaetano Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor"; James Morris's performance of a medley of tunes from Mitch Leigh's "Man of La Mancha"; and Joan Sutherland's performance of "Bel raggio" from Rossini's "Semiramide." During the intermission that follows, three short films are screened. The first two are parts one and two of a five-part documentary tracing the Met's development (the last three are screened in the Gala II): "The Met: The First Hundred Years: The Inaugural Season 1883-1884" offers archival media and narration that tell the story of how the Metrpolitan Opera Company grew from a remedy to the lack of appropriate box seating for New York City's wealthy industrialists at the Academy of Music into a bastion of Italianate opera sung by the world's greatest stars. "The Met: The First Hundred Years: The German Era/The Golden Age: 1884-1903" uses archival media and narration to illustrate the changes made to the company under the directorship of Leopold Damrosch, a friend of Richard Wagner responsible for the Met's short-lived all-German era; the box-holder rebellion that brought Italian -- and stars -- back to the Met; the fire that nearly destoyed the "Diamond Horseshoe"; and the fortuitous signing of Enrico Caruso to the repertory. The intermission closes with filmed greetings from opera singers Renata Scotto, Pilar Lorengar, Hildegard Behrens, Leonie Rysanek, and Christa Ludwig, absent from the events. Each singer discloses their stories about Met debuts and favorite Met roles. Risa Stevens appears in a promotion for "The Metropolitan Opera Centennial Gala" program book. Continues with T:13316.

Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Details

  • NETWORK: PBS
  • DATE: October 22, 1983 2:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 2:00:19
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:13314
  • GENRE: Music
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Operas - Excerpts; Orchestral music; Vocal music
  • SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1977-
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Promos - "The Metropolitan Opera Centennial Gala" program

CREDITS

  • Michael Bronson … Executive Producer, For "Live from Lincoln Center"
  • Clemente D'Alessio … Producer, For "Live from Lincoln Center"
  • Gene Searchinger … Producer, Director, For Equinox Films
  • Josh Waletzky … Producer, Director, For Equinox Films
  • Karen Adler … Associate Producer, For "Live from Lincoln Center"
  • Kirk Browning … Director, For "Live from Lincoln Center"
  • Alan Skog … Direction (Misc.), Associate Director, For "Live from Lincoln Center"
  • Gerald Fitzgerald … Writer
  • Georges Bizet … Composer
  • Gaetano Donizetti … Composer
  • George Gershwin … Composer
  • Mitch Leigh … Composer
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart … Composer
  • Giacomo Puccini … Composer
  • Gioacchio Rossini … Composer
  • Bedrich Smetana … Composer
  • Giuseppe Verdi … Composer
  • Richard Wagner … Composer
  • Richard Bonynge … Conductor
  • James Levine … Music Director, Conductor
  • Raymond Gniewek … Music (Misc. Credits), Concertmaster
  • Metropolitan Opera Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
  • Alexander Skourby … Host
  • Peter Allen … Announcer
  • Charles Anthony … Performer
  • James Courtney … Performer
  • Regine Crespin … Performer
  • Di Franco, Loretta … Performer
  • Isola Jones … Performer
  • Evelyn Lear … Performer
  • Shirley Love … Performer
  • Eva Marton … Performer
  • James McCracken … Performer
  • James Morris … Performer
  • Robert Nagy … Performer
  • Roberta Peters … Performer
  • Dano Raffanti … Performer
  • Ruggero Raimondi … Performer
  • Julian Robbins … Performer
  • Brian Schexnayder … Performer
  • Thomas Stewart … Performer
  • Joan Sutherland … Performer
  • Te Kanawa, Kiri … Performer
  • Louise Wohlafka … Performer
  • Risa Stevens … Talent, For "The Metropolitan Opera Centennial Gala" program book
  • Hildegard Behrens
  • Anthony Bliss
  • Enrico Caruso
  • Leopold Damrosch
  • Pilar Lorengar
  • Christa Ludwig
  • Leonie Rysanek
  • Renata Scotto
  • Richard Wagner