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Today was the biggest treat for me thus far on Sirius.
The first playing of the March 16, 1952 Carmen, with Rise Stevens and
Richard Tucker.
I had never had this performance in very good quality, and the Sirius
copy was incredible!!
I originally had a copy made from Tucker's original acetates, on 78,
and
they were quite scratchy and had been played a lot- probably by his
kids!
This was the first season of this smash hit production, which I didn't
see until 1960, still with Stevens and Tucker.
Stevens was still at her peak in early 1952, and her voice sounds lush
and gorgeous. She really was THE Carmen of the 20th century. And
Tucker, as Don Jose, couldn't be better or bettered. This was the role
he sang most at the Met. This is the role that turned out to be the
final performance of his career, in Barcelona in December of 1974,
following three performances of La Juive. And, though it is still
impossible to believe, this is a role that he never recorded. Shame on
the record companies!!
His singing here is so beautiful that it can easily bring tears to
one's eyes. The gorgeous lyricism of the Jose-Micaela duet is
ravishing, and when Tucker takes up that gorgeous melody by himself, it
is goose-bump time!
For me, this performance alone makes Sirius worthwhile, but all the
other great performances are also much appreciated.
So thank you, Peter Gelb, for bringing me my favorite tenor, in his
most popular role, finally, now, in 2006.
Best
Ed
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