Mary Garden interview with John Gutman: 4/3/54

During an intermission of the April 3, 1954 Carmen broadcast. John Gutman spent a brief time with soprano Mary Garden. She is her usual forthright self, reminiscing about Claude Debussy, creating the role of Mélisande and various other subjects. The episode begins with the opening of the tower scene from Paellas et Mélisande and the mélodie “Green”, both by and accompanied by the composer.
Transfer from the reel collection of Roger Gross
Produced by Donald Collup

[@francoaragosta4285]

A wonderful CHARACTER! Vivid, Vivacious, Enthusiastic, Generous, Kind. Imperious, but wholly Benevolent. How I wish we had public figures of this, high a quality, and fully developed spirit and intellect today. I LIKE her.

[@simonkawasaki4229]

Quite a historical savant when it comes to the early 20th century opera scene. A master of Massenet, Debussy, and many, many others.