Sunday Afternoon at the Opera - Puccini: Il Trittico

Sunday Afternoon at the Opera host Keith Brown writes:

It occurs to me that I have never broadcast Giacomo Puccini's triptych of one act operas as they were first staged together at the Met in New York City in 1918. Only one of the three have I presented separately: the comedy Gianni Schicchi, which went over the air on Sunday, June 15, 1997 as an additional item following the featured presentation of the day, Rossini's farce, La Scala di Seta. Its broadcast was not officially listed in the WWUH Program Guide for that date. On that occasion I made use of a 1993 Koch Discover International CD issue of Puccini's farce, with Alexander Rahbari conducting the BRTN Philharmonic Orchestra Brussels.

Today I will be airing a vintage Decca/London LP release of Gianni Schicchi in early stereo sound. This recording showcases some of the greatest operatic voices of the mid twentieth century, among them soprano Renata Tebaldi as Lauretta, the title role taken by tenor Fernando Corena. Lamberto Gardelli conducts the orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Gianni Schicchi stands well enough on its own, and it has been staged and recorded more often than the other two components of Il Trittico.

You will also hear vintage recordings of Suor Angelica ("Sister Angelica") and Il Tabarro ("The Cloak") on stereo LP's. The tragic Suor Angelica stars soprano Renata Scotto in the title role. Sister Angelica's aunt is mezzo Marilyn Horne. Also heard as Sister Genevieve is Romanian soprano, Ileana Cotrubas. Lorin Maazel conducts the New Philharmonia Orchestra and Ambrosian Opera Chorus. Suor Angelica comes to us on a 1977 Columbia Masterworks vinyl disc. Scotto is singing again as Giorgetta in the thriller Il Tabarro, with superstar tenor Placido Domingo as the stevedore Luigi. Again, it's Maazel leading the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Ambrosians. (A Columbia LP again.)