She was about 69 years old at the time of this performance. She regularly sang with Frank Sinatra 29 years prior to this. The quality of her voice when singing with Sinatra was noticeable. Must be her operatic training.
In her autobiography she clamed to be born in 1915. but when she died it was revealed she was born in 1910, so 69 when she sang this final performance. I saw her in 'Fanciulla del West' here in Vancouver in 1966. I found her voice needed a bit of getting used to - it was so bright!
What is great is you can hear the *real* sound of the voices in the theater. Not the mic'd/enhanced voices like today. You hear the ambient sound. Great! THIS is opera.
How I ever got these videos 'under cover'- Amazing. Here I sit (like Miss Havisham) watching my old videos... and loving every minute. When you're taping your mind is on everything but the performance.
If you made these, I wonder if you know what a service you were doing the world? I think now even the Met couldn't complain. If there are full or other performances they should be celebrated and be available for all to see.
Nice selection of highlights featuring THREE old pros (Kirsten, Bergonzi, and MacNeil) in roles that they excelled in, and a "young pro" conducting (James Conlon), and, of course that splendid Otto Schenk/Rudolf Heinrich production which was 20 years old and still going strong at the time of this performance. Even more amazing is that Kirsten is "still going STRONG" at the age of 68 - a testament to careful use of voice and careful role selection. Thank you VERY much!!!!!
Love this so much... most modern singers have not power or stamina... these guys had voices similar to titans! Kirsten's (Last performance) beats most current sopranos in thier prime... Bergonzi is a musical miracle and MacNeil is awesome! I think it must be the diet and hard living that made these people like this... these guys are all as fit as fiddles. Today/ Pick one up and they rattle and shake ;). Love this! Thank you!
I assume she was replacing Verrett? What was she sick with? And my god, MacNeil's voice is just so damned HUGE! What I wouldn't give to have heard him live in the house.
Chris Stockslager, You would have been floored by the size of his voice, especially in something like Tonio in Pagliacci where his high Ab sounded like it was coming up from the floor, through his body, and bouncing off the back wall of the theater. Then a few measures later he did it again, LONGER, on the high G. At age 59. He got a little unsteady in his last 7 or 8 Met years, but the size of his voice and his ringing top never deserted him. If you want to hear prime MacNeil, get the Sony CD of Ernani from the Met with Price and Bergonzi. His Act 3 contains some of the best baritone singing you’ll ever hear.
Such a great artist Dorothy Kirsten. I am not sure that Tosca was the best role to display her wonderful voice, but she had the temperament to succeed in it. It works because even the screams and cries are delivered on pitch, the voice always well placed so no damage could be done. A really great lady!
Holy smokes! If you don't have the C.D. of three of Kirsten's hit pop albums for Columbia try to find it. She was one of the few opera talents who really could also sing pop as a pop singer. This is such a thrill seeing her here, brilliant still.
MacNeil was at that point at the end of his career where he sang wide open vowels scarily high. It’s a very unpleasant sound, but somehow the sheer ability to do it must have been connected to the incredible top notes of his prime.
Yes, the voice is very bright and overly youthful in timbre, but It's strong and the phrasing illuminatescharacter and drama at hand. She was a great vocal artist.
Ghastly recorded sound but a wonderful record of the great Diva's last work at the "Met". Still in great form. It must have been unforgettable to be there. Macneil relishing the role of the "rat"
Sneaking a Camera. Believe me- IT WAS "NOT" EASY. My Sony Video = A huge camera, cables to a deck- on & on. The lens alone was huge. Batter pack around my waist!! Good picture and sound for that time. ps- You needed two people to 'sneak' the "stuff" in. But aren't 'ya glad I did.
I am more than glad that you did!!! I call it public service. Can you elaborate on the details?? It really must be a hell of a story!! greetings from Europe.
for example, how about changing tapes (was it tapes?); how about keeping it hidden during the intervals; other spectators' reactions; going out unnoticed. unfortunately, nowadays, it is so easy to make a clip with a cell phone that too many people do it... and for no reason other than boasting they have the kind of money to seat in "those" seats... Looking forward for your stories!
It WAS tape. 20 minute REEL to REEL VIDEO-TAPE. Changing and threading the tape in the machine was almost IMPOSSIBLE. Too many stories to tell. But check out StuartLou and see all the "stuff' I managed to tape. I'm AMAZED at how still I could hold that camera.
Atrocious acting. Needed more work. She needed to take lessons from better opera singer-actresses like Eileen Farrell and Maria Callas. This is not opera. This is a joke.
She was about 69 years old at the time of this performance. She regularly sang with Frank Sinatra 29 years prior to this. The quality of her voice when singing with Sinatra was noticeable. Must be her operatic training.
Licia ,Dorothy ,& Zinka....3 queens of the Met.They have proven to us ,that the perfection of their techniques has no age...
In her autobiography she clamed to be born in 1915. but when she died it was revealed she was born in 1910, so 69 when she sang this final performance. I saw her in 'Fanciulla del West' here in Vancouver in 1966. I found her voice needed a bit of getting used to - it was so bright!
What is great is you can hear the *real* sound of the voices in the theater. Not the mic'd/enhanced voices like today. You hear the ambient sound. Great! THIS is opera.
Silver Singing Method That is your subjective opinion. Opera is more than just healthy beautiful or ugly sound.
@@EmilyGloeggler7984
No it’s not. They had no amplification but nowadays it’s common.
Why are you almost always wrong? 😆
@@draganvidic2039 Emily enjoys being a troll.
How I ever got these videos 'under cover'- Amazing. Here I sit (like Miss Havisham) watching my old videos... and loving every minute. When you're taping your mind is on everything but the performance.
If you made these, I wonder if you know what a service you were doing the world? I think now even the Met couldn't complain. If there are full or other performances they should be celebrated and be available for all to see.
Absolutely LOVE how she's hanging onto the final note as she jumps! Brilliant!
A remarkable performance by Kirsten with the voice still sounding youthful.
Metropolitan Opera House
February 10, 1979
Tosca...................Dorothy Kirsten [Last performance]
Cavaradossi.............Carlo Bergonzi
Scarpia.................Cornell MacNeil
Sacristan...............Renato Capecchi
Spoletta................Charles Anthony
Angelotti...............John Cheek
Sciarrone...............Russell Christopher
Shepherd................Robert Sapolsky
Jailer..................Philip Booth
Conductor...............James Conlon
Nice selection of highlights featuring THREE old pros (Kirsten, Bergonzi, and MacNeil) in roles that they excelled in, and a "young pro" conducting (James Conlon), and, of course that splendid Otto Schenk/Rudolf Heinrich production which was 20 years old and still going strong at the time of this performance. Even more amazing is that Kirsten is "still going STRONG" at the age of 68 - a testament to careful use of voice and careful role selection. Thank you VERY much!!!!!
WOW. Now that's really a treasure.
Love this so much... most modern singers have not power or stamina... these guys had voices similar to titans! Kirsten's (Last performance) beats most current sopranos in thier prime... Bergonzi is a musical miracle and MacNeil is awesome!
I think it must be the diet and hard living that made these people like this... these guys are all as fit as fiddles. Today/ Pick one up and they rattle and shake ;).
Love this! Thank you!
I assume she was replacing Verrett? What was she sick with?
And my god, MacNeil's voice is just so damned HUGE! What I wouldn't give to have heard him live in the house.
Verrett had recurring asthma problems, I believe.
Chris Stockslager, You would have been floored by the size of his voice, especially in something like Tonio in Pagliacci where his high Ab sounded like it was coming up from the floor, through his body, and bouncing off the back wall of the theater. Then a few measures later he did it again, LONGER, on the high G. At age 59.
He got a little unsteady in his last 7 or 8 Met years, but the size of his voice and his ringing top never deserted him. If you want to hear prime MacNeil, get the Sony CD of Ernani from the Met with Price and Bergonzi. His Act 3 contains some of the best baritone singing you’ll ever hear.
No matter how late, MacNeil's voice filled that huge space as few can.
Still gives spinal chills!
Thank you for sharing this splendid memento of Kirsten and Bergonzi. A remarkable document. I hope you will share other ones from the same period.
AWESOME!!!!!!! Thanks for posting such a gem! William
she was amazing.
Splendida orchestra !!!
What refreshing art!
I always love the sound of Dorothy Kirsten's voice - wonderful piece of history.
Can you post Vissi D'arte - it would make my day.Thank you
Another treasure. Now I won't be able to sleep--serves me right for opening your site at 2 in the AM!
Bravi Tutti!
Such a great artist Dorothy Kirsten. I am not sure that Tosca was the best role to display her wonderful voice, but she had the temperament to succeed in it. It works because even the screams and cries are delivered on pitch, the voice always well placed so no damage could be done. A really great lady!
Patricia Racette sounded this good for about 8 months.
Not even ever. She’s a joke.
Holy smokes! If you don't have the C.D. of three of Kirsten's hit pop albums for Columbia try to find it. She was one of the few opera talents who really could also sing pop as a pop singer. This is such a thrill seeing her here, brilliant still.
Yes she could.
@chsiegel so glad my videos are appreciated. It wasn't easy!!
Yes; February 10, 1979.
MacNeil was at that point at the end of his career where he sang wide open vowels scarily high. It’s a very unpleasant sound, but somehow the sheer ability to do it must have been connected to the incredible top notes of his prime.
Yes, the voice is very bright and overly youthful in timbre, but It's strong and the phrasing illuminatescharacter and drama at hand. She was a great vocal artist.
According to the performance's date, I believe she was either subbing for Teresa Zylis-Gara or Gilda Cruz-Romo.
She the best American along with Traubel to come out of the 40's and 50's Manon Lescaut and Butterfly very special
I would have to include Steber in that list.
Don't forget Eleanor Steber!
@@paragod333 GREAT SINGER BUT THE BOOZE GOT IN THE WAY KIRSTAN WAS ALMOST 70 WHEN SHE SANG THIS TOSCA THE BEST MANON AND BUTTERFLY I EVER SAW
I think you mean three 'old pros'. MacNeil is great too!
She wore a dark wig because the libretto refers to 'bruna
Floria'. Eleanor Steber sang it as a blonde - no idea how she got away with it!
Too bad the "Vissi d'arte" is missing, but it's far enough to judge what that thrilling performance must have been.
My understanding is that she replaced Leonie Rysanek on this occasion. What a remarkable document this is.
Is this at the Met?
Kirsten was 69 here.
Wow! She is 69 here and a total wonder
Wasn't she supposed be something like 9 years older than she claimed? So was she actually in her 70s here?
Ghastly recorded sound but a wonderful record of the great Diva's last work at the "Met". Still in great form. It must have been unforgettable to be there. Macneil relishing the role of the "rat"
Ghastly? You obviously haven't listened to many live recordings.
"Ghastly sound" ? YOU try getting video equipment into 'that' place. Amazing it came out as good as it did.
Bergonzi sure suffered this one
the question is... how could one sneak a camera into orchestra level in 1979???
Sneaking a Camera. Believe me- IT WAS "NOT" EASY. My Sony Video = A huge camera, cables to a deck- on & on. The lens alone was huge. Batter pack around my waist!! Good picture and sound for that time. ps- You needed two people to 'sneak' the "stuff" in. But aren't 'ya glad I did.
I am more than glad that you did!!! I call it public service. Can you elaborate on the details?? It really must be a hell of a story!! greetings from Europe.
for example, how about changing tapes (was it tapes?); how about keeping it hidden during the intervals; other spectators' reactions; going out unnoticed. unfortunately, nowadays, it is so easy to make a clip with a cell phone that too many people do it... and for no reason other than boasting they have the kind of money to seat in "those" seats... Looking forward for your stories!
It WAS tape. 20 minute REEL to REEL VIDEO-TAPE. Changing and threading the tape in the machine was almost IMPOSSIBLE. Too many stories to tell. But check out StuartLou and see all the "stuff' I managed to tape. I'm AMAZED at how still I could hold that camera.
LordMgls Well not a very good recording unless you're into the sound of coughing
Atrocious acting. Needed more work. She needed to take lessons from better opera singer-actresses like Eileen Farrell and Maria Callas. This is not opera. This is a joke.
Total bitterness Troll has opened her dirty mouth again...
@@draganvidic2039 Why does she (Emily) waste her time. Does she think she's funny? She's just silly. And a troll.
You should be ASHAMED of yourself to criticize such an artiste
Where is the act one duet that used to be on her?Bergonzi and Kirsten just wonderful in it.