METROPOLITAN OPERA PRESENTS, THE: THE JAMES LEVINE 25TH ANNIVERSARY GALA {TAPE 3 OF 4} (TV)
Summary
Continued from T:68757. Tape 3 of 4. One in this series of concerts performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. In this production, James Levine, artistic director of the Met and principal conductor, is celebrated for his 25 years at the opera house in a live marathon performance on April 27, 1996. The evening's tribute is to feature 58 singers, all of whom will be conducted by Levine. Peter Allen, who has been with the Met's Saturday radio broadcast for 21 seasons, introduces the various selections and singers. The program continues midway through "Madre, pietosa Vergine" from Giuseppe Verdi's "La Forza del Destino," sung by Sharon Sweet and the Metropolitan Opera Chorus, led by Raymond Hughes. The following numbers are then performed: the Aria "In Questa Reggia" from Giacomo Puccini's "Turandot," sung by Gwyneth Jones; and "Va, pensiero" from Verdi's "Nabucco," sung by the Metropolitan Opera Chorus, and later joined by Samuel Ramey. After a brief pause, host Garrick Utley goes backstage and talks with Joseph Volpe, general manager at the Metropolitan, about the evening's events and how the performers have been working together. Volpe notes that Luciano Pavarotti was scheduled to attend but called to say he was ill. The following numbers are then performed: Act 3 Trio from Verdi's "I, Lombardi," sung by June Anderson, Carlo Bergonzi, and Ferruccio Furlanetto; the Finale from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin," sung by Catherine Malfitano and Dwayne Croft; the Act 2 Duet from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte," sung by Carol Vaness and Susanne Mentzer; "Mon coeur s'ouvre a la voix" from Camille Saint-Saens's "Samson et Delila," sung by Grace Bumbry; "Morro, ma prima in grazia" from Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera," sung by Aprile Millo; and "My Man's Gone Now" from George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess," sung by Maria Ewing. Tape ends abruptly. Continues on T:68761.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: April 27, 1996 11:02 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:21:25
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:68759
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Operas - Excerpts; Orchestral music; Vocal music
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1977-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Louisa Briccetti … Producer
- Susan Erben … Associate Producer
- Brian Large … Director
- Maneula Holterhoff … Writer
- Peter Allen … Writer
- Giuseppe Verdi … Composer
- Giacomo Puccini … Composer
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky … Composer
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart … Composer
- Camille Saint-Saens … Composer
- George Gershwin … Composer
- James Levine … Conductor
- Metropoltian Opera Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
- Metropolitan Opera Chorus … Choir/Chorus
- Sharon Sweet … Singer
- Raymond Hughes … Singer
- Gwyneth Jones … Singer
- Samuel Ramey … Singer
- June Anderson … Singer
- Ferruccio Furlanetto … Singer
- Carlo Bergonzi … Singer
- Catherine Malfitano … Singer
- Dwayne Croft … Singer
- Carol Vaness … Singer
- Susanne Mentzer … Singer
- Grace Bumbry … Singer
- Aprile Millo … Singer
- Maria Ewing … Singer
- Garrick Utley … Host
- Peter Allen … Announcer
- Joseph Volpe … Guest
- Luciano Pavarotti