Most interesting. Bastianini is clearly (and drastically!) trying to lighten his voice here, probably due to illness. I almost did not recognize him. A sad document, in a way. Reminiscent of Tibbett's last recorded Tosca from the Met where he was a mere shadow of what he once had been. Thanks for posting this!
I was there. Age 19. So nice to have this memento. Thank you. Of course, no one knew about Bastianini's condition at the time. All things considered, he did a miracle, lightening to pressure on the voice and concentrating on the role. Of course, a couple of weeks later was the "Callas line" and then the two Toscas, and all else faded into the recesses of memory with time. We were spoiled for Toscas then. So many.
@@madamevera Wow. All these years later, to hear it again. So glad you found the upload. I can’t fathom what it took for Bastianini to get through that night. The pain! Such a loss.
Thanks so much for posting this. This was in fact, Bruno Prevedi's Met Opera debut ! These late Bastianini performances always make me so sad. As several have commented, his voice was seriously diminished by this time due to throat cancer. In fact, his very last performance anywhere was at the Met only 9 months later, in Dec. 1965.
Thank you for this! My first time hearing the great Ettore's Scarpia. I have been searching for years for a Met broadcast Tosca, also from 1965 with Robert Merrill's Scarpia, Konya and I believe Crespin. Would you have it?
Most interesting. Bastianini is clearly (and drastically!) trying to lighten his voice here, probably due to illness. I almost did not recognize him. A sad document, in a way. Reminiscent of Tibbett's last recorded Tosca from the Met where he was a mere shadow of what he once had been. Thanks for posting this!
I don't want to believe sadness when we have so much from this greatest of voices and artistically unrivalled.His 13 years of greatness is legend
I was there. Age 19. So nice to have this memento. Thank you. Of course, no one knew about Bastianini's condition at the time. All things considered, he did a miracle, lightening to pressure on the voice and concentrating on the role. Of course, a couple of weeks later was the "Callas line" and then the two Toscas, and all else faded into the recesses of memory with time. We were spoiled for Toscas then. So many.
@@madamevera Wow. All these years later, to hear it again. So glad you found the upload. I can’t fathom what it took for Bastianini to get through that night. The pain! Such a loss.
Thanks so much for posting this. This was in fact, Bruno Prevedi's Met Opera debut ! These late Bastianini performances always make me so sad. As several have commented, his voice was seriously diminished by this time due to throat cancer. In fact, his very last performance anywhere was at the Met only 9 months later, in Dec. 1965.
Didn’t know this was Prevedi’s debut. Will edit the post. Thanks!
Mas de yna quisiera xantar Tosca como Dorothy Kirsten hoy en día.
Brava.
Thank you for this! My first time hearing the great Ettore's Scarpia. I have been searching for years for a Met broadcast Tosca, also from 1965 with Robert Merrill's Scarpia, Konya and I believe Crespin. Would you have it?
I’ll try to locate that. Might know someone that has it.
@@promptersbox Thanks!
Thank you! This doesn't sound like Bastianini. Could be, however. I know he was really sick around this time.
It’s him for sure. Sounds like much of the weight and darkness of the voice are gone.
@@promptersbox Indeed.