{"product_id":"flagstad-gluck-alceste-met-opera-1952-paco199","title":"FLAGSTAD Gluck: Alceste (Met Opera, 1952) - PACO199","description":"overviewfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eGLUCK \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eAlceste \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003e(performed in English)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eLive broadcast performance, 1952\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eTotal duration: 2hr 11:59\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eAlceste - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eKirsten Flagstad\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eAdmète - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eBrian Sullivan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eHigh Priest - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eFrank \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eOracle - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eAlois Pernerstorfer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eÉvandre - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eEmery Darcy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eHerald - \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eNorman Scott\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eChorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003econducted by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eAlberto Erede\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_titlefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_quotefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_bodyfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9main_samplefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fsamples\/PACO199.mp3578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fProducer's Note578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcontent578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp\u003eThere have only been eighteen performances of Gluck’s \u003ci\u003eAlceste \u003c\/i\u003eat the Metropolitan Opera House, with each iteration designed to showcase a star soprano. In 1941 it was the Australian Marjorie Lawrence, in 1961 Eileen Farrell and between them in 1952 Kirsten Flagstad. Although world famous as Isolde and Brünnhilde, Flagstad first sang \u003ci\u003eAlceste \u003c\/i\u003ein German during a wartime visit to Zürich in 1943. On her return to the Met in 1951 Flagstad sang Isolde, all three Brünnhildes and Fidelio but for her final farewell season she only agreed to sing five performances of \u003ci\u003eAlceste\u003c\/i\u003e, reflecting a new found interest in the classical era. In 1951 she had added a new operatic role to her repertoire, Dido in Purcell’s \u003ci\u003eDido and Aeneas\u003c\/i\u003e, performed in London’s tiny Mermaid Theatre, something she later described as the ideal preparation for \u003ci\u003eAlceste\u003c\/i\u003e. The performances of \u003ci\u003eAlceste \u003c\/i\u003ewere given in English, something Flagstad was particularly proud about, though she also sang the role in Italian (BBC 1956) and Norwegian (Danish Radio 1957). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFlagstad was, naturally, the star of this broadcast. The Met was packed for every performance since it was known they would be her final ones in the house. The critics were unanimous in their praise, lauding her vocal splendour and nobility as being ideally suited to the role. Indeed, one can perhaps see why she chose this role rather than Isolde as her farewell. The smaller orchestra supports the Flagstad’s vocalism, allowing her to enchant the listener with simple, yet glorious, tone. There’s no need to try to over-power a Wagnerian orchestra (though Flagstad had done that plenty of times in her career), just deliver a very moving performance through her voice alone. In addition to the music, the story of \u003ci\u003eAlceste\u003c\/i\u003e, with a wife willing to die for her husband, clearly attracted Flagstad, making it ‘the perfect role for me at this state of my life and career.’ Virgil Thomson, writing in the \u003ci\u003eHerald Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e, summed up what most people thought: ‘she is unique among living vocal artists; and hearing her is a privilege, as remembering her will for all our lives be a pleasure.’ \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePlaying Admetus is American tenor Brian Sullivan. Sullivan was a versatile singer, making his Met debut as Peter Grimes in 1948 and later going on to appear as Lohengrin and Andrei Khovansky in the Met premiere of Mussorgsky’s \u003ci\u003eKhovanshchina\u003c\/i\u003e. Critics thought Sullivan ‘sang handsomely’ even though he lacked Flagstad’s extensive experience. Another American, baritone Frank is the High Priest. had a twenty-one year career at the Met between 1940 and 1961, appearing in more than four hundred and fifty performances. He sang all the leading baritone roles in the Italian opera repertoire but \u003ci\u003eAlceste \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eBoris Godunov\u003c\/i\u003e were the only operas he performed in English. Found among the minor parts is Lucine Amara who went on to have a stellar career at the Met for over forty years. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eItalian Alberto Erede conducts. Best known as an operatic conductor, Erede held posts all over the world, and conducted periodically at the Met between 1950 and 1975. Olin Downes in the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e wrote that he brought ‘a rare and excellent understanding of the music’ and as a result ‘the orchestra pulsed and throbbed with color.’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe last word about this masterful performance of \u003ci\u003eAlceste \u003c\/i\u003egoes to Robert Sabin in \u003ci\u003eMusical America\u003c\/i\u003e who revelled in ‘the memory of a great performance and of music that remains unsurpassed in its beauty, meaningfulness, and economy of utterance. Mme. Flagstad's Alcestis, like her \u003ci\u003eGötterdämmerung \u003c\/i\u003eBrünnhilde, is one of the few really great performances of our times.’\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNB. The 1952 Met Opera performances were sung using an English translation prepared specially by John Gutman which takes certain liberties with the original words. Whilst we have not been able to supply the text of this translation, our downloads (this includes the free MP3 downloads available to all CD purchasers) also include full scores of both the French and Italian versions of the opera, plus a vocal score and libretto, with texts in French, Italian, German and English.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fFull Track Listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5ftrack_listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 24px;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGLUCK \u003c\/b\u003eAlceste\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003edisc one\u003c\/b\u003e (58:09)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. RADIO Introduction  (3:21)\u003cbr\u003e2. Overture  (7:41)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eACT ONE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e3. Hear me, loyal friend  (2:22)\u003cbr\u003e4. Sigh no more  (3:41)\u003cbr\u003e5. My friends, the king  (2:56)\u003cbr\u003e6. Oh Gods  (5:22)\u003cbr\u003e7. Follow me to the temple  (6:06)\u003cbr\u003e8. Turn away, oh Phoebus  (2:36)\u003cbr\u003e9. You who from heaven's highest portal   (5:00)\u003cbr\u003e10. Pantomime  (1:24)\u003cbr\u003e11. Phoebus does not remain unmoved  (4:25)\u003cbr\u003e12. Where am I?  (5:54)\u003cbr\u003e13. Your demand is fulfilled  (2:16)\u003cbr\u003e14. Gods of eternal night  (5:06)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003edisc two\u003c\/b\u003e (73:50)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eACT TWO\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. Let delight follow hardship  (1:20)\u003cbr\u003e2. Ballet - Andante - Allegro - March  (5:26)\u003cbr\u003e3. Ah, the king  (4:01)\u003cbr\u003e4. Alcestis  (0:54)\u003cbr\u003e5. Adorn your brows  (5:20)\u003cbr\u003e6. Alcestis you are all  (3:43)\u003cbr\u003e7. Gods! Alcestis, you're crying  (1:51)\u003cbr\u003e8. Life without you is not worth living  (1:52)\u003cbr\u003e9. You love me, I adore you  (2:47)\u003cbr\u003e10. Alcestis, I must die if you should leave me  (2:28)\u003cbr\u003e11. Oh Gods, I turn to you  (7:46)\u003cbr\u003e12. Now nothing is left but tears  (3:52)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eACT THREE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e13. Oh Gods, that defy trepidation  (5:33)\u003cbr\u003e14. Gods, who have no heart  (2:25)\u003cbr\u003e15. Oh! Admetus!  (2:07)\u003cbr\u003e16. My dear, do have pity  (3:00)\u003cbr\u003e17. The voice of Charon  (4:17)\u003cbr\u003e18. You need no longer cry  (2:10)\u003cbr\u003e19. Ballet - Andante - Allegro  (3:54)\u003cbr\u003e20. Yes it is true - Oh children dear  (0:32)\u003cbr\u003e21. Ballet - Andante - Andante - Chaconne  (7:17)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e22. RADIO Conclusion  (1:15)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eChorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003econducted by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eAlberto Erede\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCAST\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlceste - \u003cb\u003eKirsten Flagstad\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdmète - \u003cb\u003eBrian Sullivan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHigh Priest - \u003cb\u003eFrank \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOracle - \u003cb\u003eAlois Pernerstorfer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eÉvandre - \u003cb\u003eEmery Darcy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHerald - \u003cb\u003eNorman Scott\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWoman - \u003cb\u003eAnne Bollinger\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThanatos - \u003cb\u003eOsie Hawkins\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLeaders of the People - \u003cb\u003eLucine Amara, Margaret Roggero, Thomas Hayward, Luben Vichey\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDance - \u003cb\u003eMaria Karnilova, Socrates Birsky\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmbient Stereo XR remastering by: Andrew Rose\u003cbr\u003eFront cover artwork: Kirsten Flagstad as Alceste\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOriginal Italian libretto by Ranieri de' Calzabigi, based on the play Alcestis by Euripides\u003cbr\u003eEnglish translation by John Gutman\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLive matinee broadcast from New York Metropolitan Opera, 29 March, 1952\u003cbr\u003eRadio commentary by Milton Cross\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal duration:  2hr 11:59\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fCover Art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcover_art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers\/thumbs\/PACO199.jpg578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers\/PACO199.pdf578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f","brand":"Pristine Classical","offers":[{"title":"Ambient Stereo 24-bit FLAC","offer_id":44064701022298,"sku":"xqt1789303666827","price":24.51,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ambient Stereo 16-bit FLAC","offer_id":44064701055066,"sku":"lgf1789303666828","price":17.62,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"320kbps Ambient Stereo MP3","offer_id":44064701087834,"sku":"ueg1789303666829","price":14.83,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/3807\/0874\/files\/flagstad-gluck-alceste-met-opera-1952---paco199_1.jpg?v=1789303673","url":"https:\/\/vestorawear.shop\/products\/flagstad-gluck-alceste-met-opera-1952-paco199","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}