Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Live from the Met!



Since 1931, the Metropolitan Opera has been broadcasting its Saturday matinees live on the radio. These are broadcast not only in NYC and across the country, but around the world. These broadcasts are very popular and have brought the finest opera in the world literally to the world.

The first broadcast was Hansel and Gretel on Christmas Day, 1931. At that time, the Met was located on 39th street, Jimmy Walker was the mayor, Franklin Roosevelt was still the governor, Herbert Hoover was the president, the subway cost a nickel, the Triboro Bridge and the Empire State Building and the United Nations and Lincoln Center didn't exist, and there was actually a casino in Central Park.

It's amazing that these broadcasts have lasted for almost 80 years, and just another example of what makes New York such a great city.

This is a recording from a live broadcast on April 4, 1953 where tenor Kurt Baum sang "Addio alla madre" followed by the finale from Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana."

The broadcasts start in December and go through May. You can listen to them here in NYC starting December 12 at 12:30 PM on WQXR 105.9 FM (this first opera is called Il Trittico)

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